Man Utd target 'new Peter Crouch' as Red Devils consider offer for £25m Italy striker who would break height records

According to The Sun,the towering 6'7" Udinese forward, likened to the similarly lanky ex-England striker Crouch, has emerged as a serious option for the Old Trafford club, who are in the midst of a major rebuild under head coach Ruben Amorim.

Lucca, 24, has impressed with his performances in Serie A, having netted 18 goals across the last two seasons. His journey has been one of perseverance and gradual progress. After developing in Torino’s youth academy, he first made waves in Serie C with Palermo, scoring 13 goals in the 2020-21 season. That breakout campaign earned him a move to Pisa in Serie B, where his height and style of play earned him the nickname 'Tower of Pisa'.

Following a brief loan spell at Dutch giants Ajax, Lucca returned to Italy with Udinese, where he has become a regular goal threat in the top flight. His efforts have not gone unnoticed at the international level either, with the striker earning three caps for Italy in the current season.

United’s attacking woes have been well-documented throughout the 2024-25 season. With goals proving difficult to come by, Amorim’s side have slumped to 13th in the Premier League standings, far below expectations for a club with United’s stature.

Lucca isn’t the only name being linked to a switch to the red half of Manchester. The Red Devils are also reportedly tracking RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who has attracted interest across Europe. Additionally, Victor Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, remains a long-term target, though a move for the Nigerian international could require a significantly higher fee. Another forward under consideration is Hugo Ekitike, who is currently plying his trade at Eintracht Frankfurt.

While transfer planning is underway behind the scenes, the immediate focus for Manchester United is Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City at Old Trafford. The derby presents an opportunity for the Red Devils to lift spirits in what has been a turbulent campaign.