Marko Arnautovic 2021-22 stats compared to current Man United strikers

Manchester United have turned to Marko Arnautovic in an attempt to bolster their attacking line, but is he an improvement on their current options?

United scored just 57 Premier League goals last season, and their first of the 2022-23 campaign was an own goal, while 18-goal Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to leave Old Trafford.

The Red Devils like Ajax winger Antony but refuse to pay the €80m asking price and are now linked with Arnautovic.

It would be a surprise transfer; while the Austria international has Premier League experience with Stoke and West Ham, it has been three years since his last spell in England.

But the 33-year-old played under Erik ten Hag and Steve McClaren at FC Twente and scored 14 Serie A goals for Bologna last season. This form has attracted the interest of Italian giants Juventus.

United saw their first offer of around £8m rejected by Bologna, but Danijel Arnautovic, Marko's brother and representative, is hopeful a deal can be struck.

"It is true that there is an offer from a well-known club," he told Austrian newspaper Kurier, not wanting to name United as the club in question. "I am in contact with Bologna to see if this can be achieved."

United need cover and competition up front, with Ten Hag forced to field Christian Eriksen as a false nine in their opening matchday loss to Brighton, and Arnautovic would be a cheap and experienced signing.

But how do his numbers compare to the forwards currently available to Ten Hag? We've compared Arnautovic's Serie A stats for the 2021-22 season with the Premier League stats of United's current options over the same period.

Note: Anthony Martial's stats come from his La Liga appearances while on loan at Sevilla as he played just 210 league minutes for United in the first half of last season .

GoalsCristiano Ronaldo – 18Marko Arnautovic – 14Marcus Rashford – 4Jadon Sancho – 3Anthony Elanga – 2Anthony Martial – 0

AssistsCristiano Ronaldo – 3Jadon Sancho – 3Marcus Rashford – 2Anthony Elanga – 2Marko Arnautovic – 1Anthony Martial – 1

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Minutes per goalCristiano Ronaldo – 136.6Marko Arnautovic – 193.3Marcus Rashford – 308.2Anthony Elanga – 608.5Jadon Sancho – 643.6Anthony Martial – N/A

Minutes per goal or assistCristiano Ronaldo – 117.1Marko Arnautovic – 180.4Marcus Rashford – 205.5Anthony Elanga – 304.2Jadon Sancho – 317.3Anthony Martial – 495

90 Minutes Created OddsJadon Sancho – 1.9Marko Arnautovic – 1.5Cristiano Ronaldo – 1.0Marcus Rashford – 0.7Anthony Elanga – 0.7Anthony Martial – 0.4

Dribbles completed per 90 minutes (hit rate)Jadon Sancho – 2.2 (55%)Marcus Rashford – 1.6 (39%)Anthony Martial – 1.3 (44.8%)Marko Arnautovic – 1 .2 (60%)Anthony Elanga – 0.8 (34.8%)Cristiano Ronaldo – 0.7 (58.3%)

Assets per 90 minutes (passing accuracy)Jadon Sancho – 44.2 (83.5%)Cristiano Ronaldo – 32.2 (81.9%)Anthony Elanga – 30.5 (78.2%)Marko Arnautovic – 29.3 (73.7%)Marcus Rashford – 28.7 (76.1%) Anthony Martial – 27.5 (84.1%)

Photos per 90 minutes...