Reliable goalscorers are the hardest thing to find and, as Manchester United have discovered, they are also (rightly) the most difficult ones to please. But where will Cristiano Ronaldo be strutting his stuff next season?
While he attends to a pressing family issue, speculation over the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and his United future also continues to mount. He did not board the plane for Bangkok and, amid reported interest from Chelsea, there is a chance he might not pull on that red number 7 shirt again.
As underlined by their potentially calamitous kit launch, Ronaldo is still the poster boy at Old Trafford (for now) yet his proposed departure might need to be addressed by some quick-thinking in the boardroom as well as in United's commercial department. That is where Rio Ferdinand comes into the equation.
READ MORE: Ronaldo shows his opinions have changed
Speaking on the latest episode of his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand stated that Bayern Munich sensation Robert Lewandowski would be the only man he 'trusts' to lead the charge for United should the unthinkable happen. As he pointed out himself, though, that pursuit remains easier said than done.
However, as Lewandowski prepares to wave goodbye to the Allianz Arena this summer, United have already been told what the Barcelona-bound goal machine wants. It has been spelled out to them how to avoid Bayern's mistake and attempt to hijack his switch to the Nou Camp.
Addressing his future before the Catalan giants submitted an opening offer for his services, Lewandowski said: "My story with Bayern has come to an end, I cannot imagine further good cooperation. I hope that they will not stop me [from leaving] just because they can. A transfer is the best solution for everyone."
Before that, the door was well and truly left open by the player's agent, Pini Zahavi, who added: "He wants to leave this summer, none of us care about the money. The truth is he hasn't felt respected by the board for months. Bayern lost Robert not only as a footballer, but as a person."
Forget the trophies, goals and everything else Lewandowski brings, worth and value is everything to a striker - and especially one who has given the Bayern hierarchy 334 reasons to bend over backwards for him since arriving at the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2014. Their loss is set to be Barcelona's gain.
Without ignoring what Karim Benzema has achieved in recent seasons, Ronaldo and Lewandowski have combined to negate any lingering suggestions that goal-scoring is a young man's game. They have simply got better at the art over time and continue to age like the proverbial fine wine.
In that respect, should Ronaldo call quits at United, once again, there really is only one available option that United can summon to replace him. Ferdinand was bang on the money with that verdict but, while there are complications, other factors can play into hand with regards to a sensational move.
Of course, there is no Champions League to tempt Lewandowski. However, the respect his agent demands and, no doubt, the Poland captain deserves would be awash at Old Trafford and beyond.
Similarly to Ronaldo, he would be worshipped in the stands, boardroom and in the dugout as Erik ten Hag strives to shape United in his own guise. Lewandowski could be the marquee recruit he needs to answer Manchester City and Liverpool back at the first attempt.
He would undoubtedly go toe-to-toe with Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez next season, spearheading that charge for top-four with the support he seemingly lacked with the Bundesliga giants. There is also a financial aspect as well, even Lewandowski's agent has downplayed that particular motive.
Indeed, there is absolutely no way he would move to Barcelona for anything less than parity with their top earners, while their financial issues have been well-documented. The door is open and the purse strings would loosen if that man Ronaldo departs. Buttering up Lewandowski simply has to be worth a punt.
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