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As Wayne Rooney continues to fire blanks in front of the goal, voices grow among the Manchester United fan base to sign a forward. Gary Neville recently urged his former club to sign one, and with reports confirming the club being close to sign Monaco man Anthony Martial for 36m GBP, we look at three other options that will help the Manchester outfit improve their season prospects better than the Frenchman.
Manchester United are set to offload Javier Hernandez as mentioned in the report above. The club will be in the market for a forward, surely, with former defender Gary Neville expecting them to be.
Following the sale of Hernandez, the club will have given away with the services of three forwards in the summer – van Persie, Falcao, and Hernandez himself.
With Wayne Rooney enduring a goal drought that stretches back 15 games in the league, we look at the possible signings that the club can make to ensure they remain within touching distance of challenging for the title, if not winning it.
1 – Edinson Cavani (PSG)
Pace, power and finishing ability – Edinson Cavani has all the traits that Manchester United need in their forward right now. More recently, the striker scored a brace in PSG’s 3-0 away win over Monaco in a display that Manchester United fans would like at Old Trafford.
Initially having struggled to settle in Paris, Cavani scored 18 goals in the league for PSG and was just behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic on 19 goals for the top scorer for the French giants.
Cavani has forged a reputation for being a deadly goalscorer having notched by loads of goal in Serie A for Napoli before moving to PSG.
His 6 goals in the UEFA Champions League illustrates his goal scoring prowess at the highest level.
While he may not come for anything below 40-50m GBP, Cavani will be a welcome addition for Manchester United and should not find any problem in bedding into a physical league or playing alone up front for Louis van Gaal.
2 – Alvaro Morata
Real Madrid sold Alvaro Morata to Juventus in a 20m GBP deal back in the summer of 2014 with his chances restricted at the Spanish giants. While he did not play much for Juventus in the first half of 2014/15 season, the forward came on to his own in the second half, scoring crucial goals as the Old Lady marched into the Champions League final where they lost out to FC Barcelona.
Morata struck 5 times in 9 starts in Juventus’ European journey. He also netted a total of 8 times in 11 starts in Serie A.
With Juventus selling Tevez and Llorente, it is difficult to see them selling Morata unless a very good offer arrives. Manchester United certainly have the financial power to sing the forward and Juventus might be tempted to sell him should such an offer arrive.
3 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic is in the final year of his contract at PSG. His salary is something that few clubs in world football can match. And with him being 33 years of age, it remains a doubt if anyone will offer him the same package he gets in Paris. The only thing that might tempt Ibrahimovic is signing for a English giant and having one last adventure where he is tested to his limit.
Ibra was the top-scorer at PSG last season with 19 goals. While his lack of pace may be a hindrance for Manchester United given that they will be looking to add pace, Ibra will offer to them something no other player can on the level he does – physicality and aerial prowess.
The striker can bully defenders in the Premier League to a level no forward except Benteke can do right now. But of course, the former Barcelona and AC Milan player is different class.
The relationship between him and van Gaal is not the best and could prove to be a major hurdle in persuading the Swede for one last challenge.