Erik ten Hag’s pursuit of an attacking reinforcement this summer seems to be focused on bringing in another wide player rather than an out-and-out striker.
Anthony Martial’s injury at the start of the season highlighted the lack of depth Manchester United have at centre-forward. This is further muddied by a potential exit for Cristiano Ronaldo.
He was benched for the 2-1 win over Liverpool, coming on for the last nine minutes of the game. Ten Hag instead opted to choose Marcus Rashford as the man to lead the line, his hassling and pace against Jurgen Klopp's worried defence detailing why.
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United are being tipped with moves for Ajax winger Antony and PSV flankman Cody Gakpo while links with central striker Alvaro Morata are growing cold. A Ronaldo exit could mean Rashford is used as the back-up forward if Anthony Martial gets injured.
When all players are fit, the England international is most likely to play on the left wing, which is where he was positioned when he netted the winner against Liverpool. But he has proved he can do a job up front too.
The 24-year-old found the net against Melbourne City in pre-season while occupying the talisman role. Furthermore, eight of the 27 goals he has scored since the beginning of the 2020/21 season have been when playing as a centre-forward, which is almost a third of the tally.
It should not come as too much of a surprise given it’s the position Rashford played in when he thundered through into the United first team. But he will have to be prepared to step back into the role more often if Ten Hag fails to bring in a Ronaldo replacement, should he leave.
This becomes an even greater possibility once Martial’s injury record is taken into account, as well as the fact that Christian Eriksen’s false nine outing against Brighton proved fruitless.
"I think the versatility we have in the team, we can do many different things, especially in attack," Rashford said after the victory over Liverpool. It seems he could already be braced for a bout as the main striker when needed.
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