Speaking about the need to add a new striker to the Manchester United squad, interim manager, Ralf Rangnick said, “This is obvious.” "Edinson's contract is running out in the summer and the club needs the best possible centre-forward.
I think everyone is aware of that.” Manchester United have been criticised recently for missing goal scoring chances and it has cost them in matches against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and Burnley in the Premier League.
Here's what Ralf had to say when asked about @ECavaniOfficial's availability for our next #PL game 👇#MUFC— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 13, 2022
Here's what Ralf had to say when asked about @ECavaniOfficial's availability for our next #PL game 👇#MUFC
With Cavani sure to leave in the summer and Cristiano Ronaldo coming to the end of his career, there is need to freshen things up in attack.
Anthony Martial has been loaned to Sevilla and it appears his Manchester United career is ending and Mason Greenwood is out of the equation. So, who could Manchester United add to the squad in the summer? It must be a player who is capable of starting and scoring goals.
Erling Braut Haaland is the most obvious candidate and the Norwegian striker is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer. The 21-year-old has a clause in his contract that will make him available for £67 million and that is a bargain price for one of the best strikers in world football.
Real Madrid had been strongly linked with Haaland but are believed to be focusing their attention on Kylian Mbappe. Barcelona are reportedly planning to move for the Borussia Dortmund forward and there are rumours that would be Haaland’s preferred destination.
Manchester City, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move for the Norwegian. Manchester United must at least qualify for the Champions League if they are to have any chance of tempting Haaland to Old Trafford.
The choice of manager for next season could also have a massive impact on the signing of a striker. For example, if Mauricio Pochettino came back to England he may try and persuade Harry Kane to join him at Manchester United.
It may not be as exciting a signing as Haaland but Kane guarantees goals in the Premier League and would have no trouble settling in at Old Trafford. However, Manchester City might try again in the summer having failed in a bid to sign Kane following the European Championship.
Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez and Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad are two potential options but again, neither are as exciting as Haaland. Would the signing of Martinez or Isak put fear into Manchester United’s opponents in the same way it would if they signed Haaland?
Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick is another name to crop up in recent reports but again, is he the player to take Manchester United to the next level by scoring a lot of goals?
With the focus also on the addition of a world class defensive midfielder, the next manager of Manchester United is going to have a tricky job trying to bring in a quality striker.