As Manchester United look towards the January transfer window, new manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly eyeing Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface as a potential solution to their attacking woes.
The Red Devils' underwhelming season continued under Amorim, as they laboured to a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Ipswich on Sunday.
With only 13 goals scored across 12 league matches, the team currently has the fourth-weakest offensive record in the league.
Both Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who arrived for a combined €114.5 million, have struggled to deliver in front of goal, each managing just one goal in the league so far.
Nigeria striker Boniface has been a revelation for Leverkusen, and played a pivotal role in their unbeaten Bundesliga campaign last season. But is Boniface the answer to United's issues?
A deep look into his numbers compared to Højlund and Zirkzee provides some intriguing insights.
Victor Boniface’s numbers compared to United’s forwards
Boniface‘s Bundesliga performances this season highlight his attacking pedigree. In 10 matches, the 23-year-old has scored six goals, averaging 0.6 goals per game.
His expected goals (xG) tally of 6.54 reflects his ability to consistently position himself for scoring opportunities, though his goal conversion rate of 15% suggests room for greater efficiency.
He has been particularly impactful in front of goal, taking 4.1 shots per game, with 1.5 of these on target. While Boniface has missed eight big chances this season, his knack for delivering decisive moments outweighs occasional lapses.
Career-wise, Boniface boasts impressive numbers. He netted 29 goals and provided 11 assists in 49 games for Leverkusen, alongside strong spells at Union Saint-Gilloise (17 goals, 12 assists in 51 matches) and Bodø/Glimt (23 goals, 8 assists in 66 games).
Zirkzee is underwhelming in Manchester
By contrast, Zirkzee has struggled since joining United. Despite making 12 league appearances, he has started only four games and scored just one goal.
His xG of 2.65 indicates a lack of clinical finishing, compounded by missing four big chances. Zirkzee's 8% goal conversion rate and an average of 1.1 shots per game pale in comparison to Boniface's productivity.
Over his professional career, Zirkzee's record includes 14 goals in 58 games for Bologna, 18 goals in 47 matches for Anderlecht, and a brief stint at Bayern Munich, where he managed four goals in 17 games.
Højlund’s offers little hope
Højlund, meanwhile, has shown flashes of promise but remains far from prolific. In eight league matches this season, he has scored once, with an xG of 1.10 and a goal conversion rate of 20%.
He averages 0.6 shots per game, including 0.4 on target, but has missed only one big chance—a sign of limited service rather than poor finishing.
Looking at his broader career, Højlund has 18 goals in 56 games for United, a decent record for a young striker. He previously shone at Sturm Graz with 12 goals in 21 games and delivered 10 goals in 34 matches for Atalanta BC. His career trajectory suggests untapped potential, but United's current struggles limit his impact.
Boniface's goal-scoring prowess, combined with his ability to create chances, makes him an attractive target for United. His Bundesliga numbers this season—six goals in 10 games—dwarf the returns of both Zirkzee and Højlund.
Additionally, his higher xG indicates he consistently gets into dangerous positions, a quality United sorely need in their misfiring attack.
Boniface offers a more immediate solution to United's scoring woes. However, his transfer won't come cheap, with Leverkusen reportedly valuing him highly due to his contract running until 2028.
