Manchester United have held internal discussions about signing Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic, with the Croatian forward seen as a potential replacement for Joshua Zirkzee.
The 23-year-old has attracted interest from Old Trafford in the final weeks of the transfer window, according to GiveMeSport senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs.
Jacobs, speaking on The United Stand, described Matanovic as a physically imposing forward with considerable development potential at the highest level.
“I heard the other day that Igor Matanovic is another name that’s been discussed who is almost like a basketball player,” Jacobs said on the podcast.
“He is I think like six foot six. Tottenham were the other club that have taken a look at him in the last few weeks and there’s an element of the Benjamin Sesko to him in terms of profile but he falls more into a younger kind of category rather than a proven and finished Premier League product.”
Matanovic enjoyed a productive debut season at Freiburg, scoring 15 goals and registering four assists across 50 appearances in all competitions during 2025/26.
His tally included 11 goals in 31 Bundesliga matches, three in 15 Europa League games, and one in four DFB-Pokal outings, demonstrating consistent output throughout a demanding campaign.
The towering centre-forward also made three appearances for Croatia at the World Cup, where he was involved in the controversy surrounding a disallowed late goal in their knockout defeat to Portugal.
Transfermarkt currently values Matanovic at 22 million euros, and he has earned 12 caps for the Croatian national team, scoring twice at international level.
United manager Michael Carrick already has Benjamin Sesko as his primary striking option, but Zirkzee’s uncertain future at the club has opened the door for a potential addition in that area.
Juventus have been heavily linked with a move for Zirkzee, with The Sun reporting that the Italian club advanced talks over a loan deal containing a 30 million pound option to buy.
Despite those reports, Zirkzee has continued to feature in pre-season and scored in United’s 1-1 friendly draw with Leeds, giving Carrick reason to consider his options carefully.
Club officials have discussed a potential approach for Matanovic, though United are yet to initiate formal negotiations with Freiburg over a transfer fee.
Carrick is looking to add depth and competition to his attacking ranks, and it remains to be seen whether Matanovic fits the profile the club ultimately pursues.