Manchester United need finishers and these are the best 20 in Europe last season, measured by how many goals they scored beyond their xG in the league.
You might notice there’s no Kasper Hjolund in there; he scored nine goals when he should have scored 9.5. There’s also no Randal Kolo Muani, though he has at least got positive numbers on these metrics.
Not as good as these guys though – the best finishers in the five big European leagues last season.
20) Amine Gouiri (Rennes)
xG for 22/23: 11.1
Actual goals: 15
Difference: 3.9
Still uncapped by France despite a stellar first season after his transfer from Nice. Strongly linked with Manchester United last summer but it’s all gone quiet despite that 15-goal season.
19) Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
xG for 22/23: 8
Actual goals: 12
Difference: 4
Still only 20, he slipped through Chelsea and England fingers.
18) Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal)
xG for 22/23: 8
Actual goals: 12
Difference: 4
Ended his final season with Villarreal with a ludicrous nine goals in eight games before joining Chelsea for what might be the relatively bargain price of £32m.
17) Harvey Barnes (Leicester City)
xG for 22/23: 8.9
Actual goals: 13
Difference: 4.1
Newcastle have pounced for Barnes after a season in which Anthony Gordon and Allan Saimt-Maximin utterly failed to provide much goal threat from the left.
16) Rafael Leao (AC Milan)
xG for 22/23: 10.8
Actual goals: 15
Difference: 4.2
Recently renewed with AC Milan. He will be in this kind of transfer XI in a decade’s time.
15) Sheraldo Becker (Union Berlin)
xG for 22/23: 6.5
Actual goals: 11
Difference: 4.5
He’s 28 and this is the only time he’s ever logged double figures in a league season so potential buyers (West Ham, Fulham and Burnley have been mentioned) beware.
14) Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
xG for 22/23: 21.3
Actual goals: 26
Difference: 4.7
Undoubtedly an excellent striker approaching his peak but out of the price ranges of pretty much everybody this summer, including Manchester United.
READ: Hojlund tops ranking of Man Utd striker targets by how much they could overpay
13) Vincenzo Griffo (Freiburg)
xG for 22/23: 10.3
Actual goals: 15
Difference: 4.7
German-born Italian international winger – now aged 30 – who has just had the season of his life in Bundesliga.
12) Jonas Hoffman (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
xG for 22/23: 7.2
Actual goals: 12
Difference: 4.8
Now at Bayer Leverkusen after a summer transfer after seven years with Mönchengladbach, the 31-year-old wanted a new challenge under Xabi Alonso.
11) Gabri Veiga (Celta Vigo)
xG for 22/23: 6.1
Actual goals: 11
Difference: 4.9
Coveted by every big club across Europe, the central midfielder has just turned 21 and has not yet been capped by Spain.
10) Rodrigo (Leeds United)
xG for 22/23: 8.1
Actual goals: 13
Difference: 4.9
Now in Qatar (hard not to think he got on the wrong Middle East bandwagon there) after his goalscoring exploits could not keep Leeds in the Premier League.
9) Neymar (PSG)
xG for 22/23: 8.1
Actual goals: 13
Difference: 4.9
Being exactly as good as Rodrigo is probably not what Neymar craves. He’s exactly the kind of player the old Manchester United would panic and sign.
8) Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
xG for 22/23: 10
Actual goals: 15
Difference: 5
A remarkable season for the Arsenal captain, he was among the least culpable for the bottling.
READ: Ranking the Arsenal bottle jobs from Martin Odegaard to Thomas Partey
7) Phil Foden (Manchester City)
xG for 22/23: 5.9
Actual goals: 11
Difference: 5.1
Somehow Manchester City’s second top-scorer in the Premier League last season. We suspect he will not join Manchester United.
6) Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
xG for 22/23: 5.5
Actual goals: 11
Difference: 5.5
Literally scored twice as many goals as he should have done. He should now score 75 goals for Al Ahli.
5) Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
xG for 22/23: 9.3
Actual goals: 15
Difference: 5.7
One of four Gunners in double figures last season and probably the most natural finisher.
4) Elye Wahi (Montpellier)
xG for 22/23: 12.2
Actual goals: 19
Difference: 6.8
Chelsea look the most likely destination for the 20-year-old French striker who has had a remarkable season.
3) Boulaye Dia (Salernitana)
xG for 22/23: 8.8
Actual goals: 16
Difference: 7.2
After that season, the Italian club had no hesitation in making his loan from Villarreal permanent for just £10m. They could now double their money by selling him for a quick profit to Everton.
2) Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
xG for 22/23: 28.4
Actual goals: 36
Difference: 7.6
He’s pretty good.
1) Harry Kane (Tottenham)
xG for 22/23: 21,5
Actual goals: 30
Difference: 8.5
He’s pretty sodding amazing. Will Manchester United just cough up the £100m-plus they need to buy the best?
