Three Premier League Giants Circle Austrian Forward
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly in a three-way battle for Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic, according to CaughtOffside. The 23-year-old has made a flying start this season, contributing eight goals and assists in just seven appearances.
Who Is Igor Matanovic?
Despite representing Austria, Matanovic has spent his entire career in Germany. He came through the ranks at St Pauli, recording 26 goal contributions in 27 Under-17 games. His former boss Timo Schultz once labelled him “exceptional”.
After a senior debut in November 2020, he joined Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021 but managed only 25 appearances before moving to Freiburg, where he has since flourished with 27 goal contributions.
Why Arsenal, United and Chelsea Are Interested
Arsenal missed out on a new centre-forward last summer, and the report suggests Matanovic could be a like-for-like alternative to Kai Havertz. United, meanwhile, want extra firepower following Benjamin Sesko’s recent fitness concerns.
Chelsea regularly scout promising young attackers, although Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck currently occupy the first- and second-choice roles at Stamford Bridge.
Freiburg Open to a Sale, But Price Has Risen
Freiburg will reportedly not stand in his way, but the asking price has climbed from £30m to £50m.
At 6ft 4in, Matanovic offers physicality, aerial strength, box presence and sharp link-up play, attributes suited to the Premier League’s intensity. He has also reached double figures for goals in each of the last two seasons.
Our Opinion
Whether £50m is good value depends on how consistently he maintains this scoring rate. Arsenal look the most logical fit given the Havertz similarities, while United’s interest seems driven more by short-term injury worries. Chelsea appear the least likely to act, given their existing depth.
It will be fascinating to see who wins the race ahead of the 2027 transfer window.
