The bombshell was dropped on Saturday night that Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave Manchester United. Though reports had stated that Mendes had sounded out potential suitors in Chelsea and Bayern Munich over the past few weeks, this was the first clear indication that the forward definitively wants to leave this summer.
The Manchester Evening News understands that United still state that their famous number seven is not for sale and he is under contract till 2023, but as Ronaldo showed at Juventus if he wants to leave he likely will do. Therefore the club and Erik ten Hag need to consider replacements.
Players like Victor Osimhen and Tammy Abraham would fit the profile that Ten Hag is looking for in a striker, but they would likely cost too much money this summer even with Ronaldo's departure. This means that United should look for a stop-gap signing till they can invest in an upgrade next summer, and here are three strikers who could fit the bill:
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Sasa Kalajdzic
Though Kalajdzic had been heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, a move never materialised. The 6ft 7in forward currently plays for Stuttgart and could reportedly be available for as little as €25m this summer.
Kalajdzic is incredibly good on the ball despite his height and would offer the presence up front which would allow the rest of the team to thrive. He only scored six goals last season, but this was in 15 appearances and he had only just returned from injury.
Wout Weghorst
A wildcard option given that the striker has just been relegated with Burnley after only scoring two goals and registering three assists in 20 appearances, but like Kalajdzic his overall game would be a benefit to the team as a whole. At 29 years old, it is clear that he would be a stop-gap option and a short deal or even a loan just for this season could help United a lot.
Moussa Dembele
Dembele has been consistently linked with a move to United during his time at Lyon but a transfer has never materialised. The French forward is a conundrum in himself; he has the ability to be a consistent goalscorer but also goes through spells where he fails to make an impact across a run of games.
If Ten Hag is looking for a striker who will occupy the box and provide a focal point for the more creative players to find in front of the goal, then Dembele could be the best option. None of these options, however, truly solve the issue the club has over the long term and fully replace Ronaldo.
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