For years, Manchester United have been searching for consistency in front of goal. Despite spending heavily on attacking players, the goals have not flowed as expected. This season, the story has become even more glaring. The strikers currently at Old Trafford look isolated, struggling to make an impact, while some of those who left have found a new lease of life elsewhere. Anthony Elanga has gone from a squad option to one of the Premier League’s most dynamic forwards, Rasmus Højlund has exploded into form in Serie A with Napoli, and Marcus Rashford has already impressed in Barcelona’s attack.So is this revival away from Old Trafford evidence that Manchester United’s system is failing its strikers? Or are these players simply thriving because they found clubs that suit them better? To answer this, it is worth looking at their numbers, their tactical fit, and the wider issues surrounding United’s attacking structure.
Elanga’s Growth Beyond Old Trafford
Anthony Elanga was never seen as a key man at Manchester United. He was raw, often inconsistent, and struggled to nail down a starting spot. But since leaving, he has flourished. At Nottingham Forest in the 2024/25 season, he played every Premier League game, recording six goals and eleven assists. That was not the return of a world-class striker, but it was a massive leap in terms of consistency, productivity, and responsibility.
What stood out even more was how his style developed. Elanga became one of the league’s most effective ball carriers. He ranked at the very top for progressive carries and distance covered per carry. His shot conversion improved as well, hitting 13.6% compared to the wastefulness that sometimes plagued him at United. That development earned him a £55 million move to Newcastle in the summer of 2025, where he has already impressed in both the Premier League and Champions League.The difference is clear: Elanga is thriving in systems that exploit his direct running and pace. At Forest, and now at Newcastle, he is allowed to play with freedom in transition, attack space, and receive quick, purposeful service. Contrast that with his final months at United, where he was often tasked with defensive work and rarely given consistent chances in positions where he could hurt teams. The evidence suggests that his talent was not the problem — the system around him was.
Højlund’s Immediate Impact at Napoli
Rasmus Højlund is perhaps the most striking example of how Manchester United’s system can starve a striker. Signed for a huge fee in 2023, the Danish forward was billed as the future of the club’s attack. Instead, he endured a frustrating time in Manchester. In the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, he managed only four goals in 32 games. The criticism was relentless: he looked isolated, his movement unrewarded, his confidence shot.And yet, within weeks of moving to Napoli on loan, Højlund rediscovered his goalscoring touch. On his Serie A debut against Fiorentina, he scored. In the Champions League, he grabbed a brace against Sporting Lisbon, showing sharpness and instinct inside the penalty area. In just five games for Napoli, he equalled the number of goals he had managed in more than 30 appearances for Manchester United.The turnaround is too sharp to dismiss as coincidence. At Napoli, he is being supplied by a creative midfield that includes Kevin De Bruyne, and he is being used in a role tailored to his strengths: a central striker who lives off through balls, cut-backs, and aerial service. At United, he was often tasked with dropping deep, pressing constantly, and working without the kind of quality service that a young striker relies on. The conclusion is obvious: Højlund is not a bad striker. He was simply being used in a system that did not support him.
Rashford’s Barcelona Reinvention
Marcus Rashford’s story is slightly different because he did have strong years at United, particularly when given freedom on the left wing. But his form became inconsistent, and his place in the starting eleven was no longer guaranteed. His loan move to Barcelona in the summer of 2025 raised eyebrows, but the early returns suggest it was the right choice.In La Liga, Rashford has already registered assists and goals, looking rejuvenated in a system built around movement, possession, and quick combinations. In the Champions League, he scored twice against Newcastle, a reminder of the devastating finisher he can be when supplied regularly. Rashford himself admitted that Barcelona’s style is making him a “better player,” highlighting how important tactical environment can be.At United, Rashford often looked burdened with defensive responsibility, or stranded out wide without support. At Barcelona, he is surrounded by midfielders who play to his strengths, allowing him to drift inside, attack space, and focus on end product rather than constant tracking back.
What This Says About United’s System
When three attackers leave Manchester United and immediately thrive elsewhere, the question must be asked: is it them, or is it United? The evidence leans heavily toward the latter.United’s system has consistently failed to create enough clear chances for its strikers. Forwards are often left isolated, with midfield creativity lacking and wing play too predictable. The focus on possession and recycling the ball has often slowed attacks down, giving defenders time to regroup. For a striker, that means fewer one-on-one opportunities, fewer cut-backs, and fewer instinctive chances in the box.At Napoli, Højlund is finding himself in scoring positions every game. At Barcelona, Rashford is receiving regular service inside the penalty area. At Newcastle, Elanga is able to stretch defences and be fed in space. These players did not suddenly become better the moment they left Old Trafford. They simply moved into systems that accentuated their strengths rather than highlighting their weaknesses.
Beyond the System: Other Factors
Of course, it would be too simplistic to say Manchester United’s system is the only problem. Other factors play a role. Confidence is massive for attackers, and a new environment can immediately lift a player’s mindset. Different leagues also offer different challenges; Serie A and La Liga can sometimes give forwards more space to exploit than the Premier League.But when the same pattern repeats with multiple players, the systemic issues become undeniable. Strikers are not being given the tools they need to thrive at United. Even those who stay — like Benjamin Sesko or Matheus Cunha — face similar struggles with limited service and too much defensive burden.
How United Can Fix the Problem
If Manchester United want to stop this pattern of strikers failing at Old Trafford only to shine elsewhere, they need to rethink how their attack functions. That means several changes:First, the team must play with more verticality. Too often, United’s possession play has been slow and predictable. Quick, line-breaking passes into the forwards must become a staple. Secondly, the wingers and fullbacks need to be used to provide overlapping runs and cut-backs, creating easier chances in central areas. Thirdly, the striker’s role has to be simplified. Rather than demanding constant pressing and defensive sacrifice, United must allow their number nine to focus on movement, positioning, and finishing.Most importantly, strikers need consistency. They must be trusted to play through difficult spells, to build partnerships with midfielders and wingers, and to develop the confidence that comes only with regular goals.
A Systemic Failure
The evidence from Elanga, Højlund, and Rashford’s resurgence elsewhere is compelling. These players are not outliers. They are proof that Manchester United’s system is not doing enough to supply its strikers. At other clubs, with different tactical setups, the same players look sharper, freer, and more effective.For Manchester United fans, this is a painful reminder that the club’s problems go beyond individual talent. Until the system is adapted to create and feed strikers, Old Trafford will continue to see attackers struggle — and the rest of Europe will continue to enjoy watching those same players thrive.
