Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney is reportedly eager to leave the newly crowned Premier League champions this summer, with the striker claimed to want a fresh start. Although the Red Devils are thought to want to keep the England international, a move abroad may well be on the cards.
Should Rooney leave Old Trafford the new Manchester United manager, whoever it may be, will be keen to bolster his attacking options. But just who will fill Wayne Rooney’s shoes?
Robert Lewandowski
The Borussia Dortmund striker is one of the hottest prospects in European football after his four goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final shot him to superstardom.
The Polish marksman has been in top form for the Signal Iduna Park side long before the quartet of strikes against the Spaniards however, playing a major role in the 2011-12 Bundesliga and DFB Pokal domestic double.
With only a year left on his contract, rumours are rife that Lewandowski will leave Dortmund this summer for one of Europe’s top clubs. United are known to be admirers and a move for the lethal striker would make sense. Whether he could play alongside out-and-out frontman Robin van Persie would be an issue to resolve for the new manager however.
Edinson Cavani / Radamel Falcao
Two red hot strikers hitting the back of the net on a regular basis for their respective sides, and constantly rumoured with a move to a bigger club. Manchester City and Chelsea are thought to be monitoring both forwards, with Napoli and Atletico Madrid preparing themselves for summer onslaughts.
Two South American predators, whether Manchester United would be willing to meet the astronomical asking prices for either is questionable. City, Chelsea or PSG seem like more likely destinations.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portugal international is undoubtedly one of the top players in world football, and a mainstay at Real Madrid. However, Cristiano Ronaldo admitted to not being happy at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier in the campaign, and certainly remembers his time at Old Trafford fondly.
With a reported Madrid bid for Brazilian superstar Neymar on the cards, Ronaldo’s future in the Spanish capital is by no means cast in stone.
United would have to pay an astronomical amount to bring him back to England and beat countless other suitors to his hand, but this would be the move that 9/10 of the Old Trafford faithful would opt for given the choice.
Someone unexpected, or no one
With David Moyes the frontrunner to become Sir Alex Ferguson’s replacement, a move for an under-appreciated or more cost-effective player is not unrealistic. Given that United have Van Persie, Shinji Kagawa, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez to choose from, the Scottish manager may even opt not to replace Rooney.
Marouane Fellaini is a player that Moyes has worked extensively with at Everton, and the Belgium international’s signing would be one that could happen. The powerful versatility man has moved into a more attacking role this term with devastating effect, and would offer United something completely different to their current forwards.
Manchester United’s midfield seems in need of more of a revamp than their attack, and Moyes could well be eager to spend the transfer fee the club receives for Wayne Rooney on a player to dominate in the centre of the park rather than a replacement.
Again, the Scot would be likely to avoid a big-name, expensive signing and may prefer someone more grounded and hungry.
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