Mario Mandzukic won’t fix Manchester United’s struggles on the attack

According to The Daily Mail UK, the Red Devils have recently reignited their interest in the Juventus striker, but given his age and lack of playing time, Mandzukic won’t resolve United’s struggles on the attack.

Manchester United have been keen on Mario Mandzukic since the summer transfer window, but couldn’t secure a deal with the Croatian before the window ended. Now, with complete disarray at the club with them sitting in the bottom half of the English Premier League, they’re in desperate need of some attacking reinforcements.

With the January transfer window just a few months away, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer is scrambling to line up numerous different names to bring to Old Trafford. Mandzukic shot to the top of the list for the Red Devils as he would be available to join United on a free transfer from Juventus.

Mandzukic, who is now 33-years old, has yet to feature for Juve at all this season under new boss Maurizio Sarri. The former Chelsea manager has favored Gonzalo Higuain over the Croatian. That alone is a red flag, considering he isn’t playing at all. Mandzukic has scored 31 times in 118 appearances through his four seasons in the Serie A with Juventus, while also adding 20 assists. Not awful numbers, but nothing compared to his 53 goals and 21 assists in 110 appearances prior while in Germany with Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg.

He’s always been very clinical in front of goal, but the thing is he’s a lot older now. He still has great presence with his big frame and the ability to win aerial duels, but Mandzukic isn’t the same player that he once was, and that’s understandable. I know that United are desperate for more attackers who can make an immediate impact, but Mandzukic won’t be the answer.

First, he’s never played in England. It’s a big transition for a player and that’s been proven by his teammate Gonzalo Higuain coming to Chelsea last season. He was practically non-existent up front, immensely struggling to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. If Mandzukic was in his late 20’s still, I believe it would be a decent move for Manchester United.

But given the fact he’s on his last legs in European football, it doesn’t make much sense. Since he would come to Old Trafford on a free transfer, realistically it wouldn’t hurt the club though. If nothing else, he can be a good mentor to the young strikers they currently have in Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.

Mandzukic was one of the more lethal strikers in the world at one point, but that time has passed. United are also very keen on Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson, who would be a lot more valuable of an acquisition for the Red Devils.

When you take into account that Mandzukic hasn’t even played in a competitive fixture all season and he’s 33-years old, it just doesn’t seem like he would be the man to change Manchester United’s season around at this point.

The Croatian has been linked with a move to MLS side LAFC, which in my opinion, would be a great move for him where he can excel just like Zlatan Ibrahimovic has with the LA Galaxy.