Man Utd transfer news: Ten Hag’s plan to replace Ronaldo in the January transfer window

New striker needed 

Most of Europe’s biggest clubs have problems to solve in the January transfer window but very few have as big a hole in their team quite like Manchester United. Prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the club confirmed that want-away striker Cristiano Ronaldo had left the club, leaving a rather notable hole in Erik Ten Hag’s side ahead of the second half of the season. 

The Portugal international is almost likely to find another club before the January window comes to a close, with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr reportedly leading the way to sign the former Real Madrid and Juventus star. But back in Manchester, the Old Trafford club he’s left behind will be hard at work looking for a new striker to lead their attacking line. 

Could Rashford replace Ronaldo?  

Before looking to buy a replacement to Ronaldo, Man Utd are seemingly prioritising a new contract for a player that they already have and could, potentially, step into the role in the coming months. England international Marcus Rashford is not only a Man Utd youth graduate but with over 100 career goals with the club he’s also one of Ten Hag’s most potent forwards. 

Worryingly for Man Utd fans, Rashford’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the season, making him one of the most valuable players in the World with a deal that is set to run out in 2023. But, according to reports in England, the club aren’t losing too much sleep over it. Indeed, Fabrizio Romano and other outlets have reported that Man Utd possess a clause that will allow them to extend Rashford’s contract in the coming weeks and the Old Trafford club plan to do exactly that. But will the England international staying put in Manchester be enough to compensate for Ronaldo’s exit? 

What strikers have Man Utd been linked with? 

In typical fashion, Man Utd have been linked with a number of attacking options since Ronaldo left the club in November. And almost all of them will likely cost the Premier League giants a sizable fortune to sign in January or even in the following summer transfer window. 

Man Utd transfer target Victor Osimhen has admitted that he wants to win something with Napoli before he considers a move to another club pic.twitter.com/xbjjNTlqev

— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) December 21, 2022

Perhaps the most persistent rumour comes from the Netherlands, where PSV striker Cody Gakpo continues to be linked with a move to Man Utd. The Dutch star was reportedly close to a move to the Old Trafford side prior to this season and it seems as though Ten Hag & Co. are still intent on signing him. However, with a market value of €45 million, the 23-year-old striker won’t come cheap. 

Another consistent transfer target seems to be AC Milan forward Rafael Leão, who has reportedly refused to sign an extension to a contract that already runs until 2024 and is reportedly pushing for a departure from the Serie A club. Whether or not that means he can earn himself a move to the Premier League next month remains to be seen. 

And, to little surprise, Man Utd have also been linked to some in-form players off the back of impressive World Cup performances. In this case, Portugal and Benfica striker Gonçalo Ramos and Atletico Madrid star João Félix seem to be the main contenders. However we’ll have to wait and see whether the English club’s apparent interest in these forwards is genuine or just a fleeting spark of intrigue following the World Cup. 

Homepage