Minnesota United linked to former Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki

Minnesota United is deep in its pursuit of a new striker with a proven goal-scoring record, and a player who fits that profile has surfaced this week.

MNUFC has been linked to former Norwich City and current Finland national team forward Teemu Pukki.

Pukki, 33, played his final game for Norwich in England’s second tier, the Championship, in early May and is now a free agent. He also has been linked to Samsunspor in Turkey.

MNUFC has been working to free up a Designated Player spot with Luis Amarilla’s exit to a club in Mexico or Ecuador appearing imminent. That spot, in theory, would be used to sign Pukki to a lucrative contract, but there won’t be a transfer fee necessary to Norwich. The Loons are also working its roster to free up an international slot.

Pukki has scored 176 goals for a variety of European clubs in his 16-year career, also including at Brondby in Denmark, Schalke 04 in German Bundesliga, Celtic in Scottish Premiership and HJK in Finnish Veikkausliiga.

Pukki’s prime years has been spent at Norwich, where his club has bounced between the Championship and the Premier League. He has scored 87 goals for the club, including 65 across three seasons in the Championship and 22 over two years in the world-class Premier League.

He averaged 0.69 and 0.68 goals per 90 minutes in his first two years in the Championship, when Norwich won promotion. He averaged 0.34 and 0.31 goals per 90 in the Premier League, when Norwich was relegated.

But his average in the Championship dipped to 0.31 this last season.

Norwich City as a whole struggled in 2022-23, finishing far from promotion in 13th place, but Pukki’s advanced age also might be a factor in his scoring rate coming down.

Pukki has a fellow countryman on MNUFC in fellow Finnish national team player Robin Lod. In an interview, Pukki said he tried multiple occasions to get Lod to come play in England, but, of course, that didn’t happen.

“I have a really good connection with (Lod) and he’s given me loads of assists for the (Finland) national team,” Pukki said. “He’s a good player.”

Lod is currently sidelined four to six months with a torn meniscus, but the midfielder signed a three-year contract with Minnesota through 2025.

If MNUFC is able to complete the signing for Pukki, he could arrive as soon as the summer transfer window opens July 5.

Lower on the Loons wish list this summer is a new defender and midfielder. The window closes Aug. 2.

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