Manchester United Urgent: Striker Required

Article by e-Manchester United's Carl Bishop

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Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Chicarito. A fine striking group. But not fine enough.

Louis Van Gaal is acutely aware that without bringing in a healthy and motivated world class finisher his team will be fighting with Liverpool, Spurs and Everton for a Champions League slot rather than Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City for the title. Arturo Vidal and/or Angel Di Maria may indeed wear the famous Red of United soon along with a couple of new defenders but the crucial position lies further upfield. Manchester United are desperate for a new icon and whilst Peter Schmeichel, David Beckham and Gary Pallister are firmly entrenched in the Reds mildly beating heart it is only a flamboyant, clinical goal scorer who can rejuvenate Old Trafford's recently attacked cardiac muscle.

The number 7 shirt awaits but as Antonio Valencia found out, it is a one option deal - megastardom on and off the pitch or choose another shirt. Poisoned chalice it is not, although the new owner will need to be in the same class as Ronaldo, Beckham, Cantona or Robson. George Best was deliberately omitted, there will never be another George and it is folly to hope. What's wrong with RVP and Rooney say the tabloids? Simple really, Rooney will not rediscover his greatness unless it's with another club, if at all. His only hope is that he becomes more decisive in front of goal because he does not have the necessary attributes to drop back into midfield as some suggest. Wayne's biggest worry is that his main strength, and always has been, is floating around a true number nine but that position is utilised less and less as the dawn of skilful mobile forwards gathers momentum. Van Persie will be 31 in three weeks time and his star is waning. Apart from his last season at Arsenal and first for United RVP rarely exceeds 35 appearances when a modern striker needs to be closer to 50. More concerning is the fact that he is becoming less effective even when he is fit.

Everyone loves Danny Welbeck but unless 'The Dink's' finishing improves a couple million per cent he will never start at a top tier club. Hernandez is the opposite of Welbeck, all finish and no play and unless one Dr Frankenstein joins the United staff and splices these two together it's bye bye Chicarito too.

After groaning through last season the sub-par midfield was rightly criticised along with some poor defensive play but the forwards got off lightly for the most part. If we have learned nothing else from the World Cup the 'single magician' principle has hit home hard for many teams. Even Germany, generally regarded as the best 'team' have become more reliant on the excellent Thomas Muller as the tournament progressed. It is also interesting to note that Philipp Lahm's move back into defence coincided with the stiffening of the whole German rear guard – a move not lost on Louis Van Gaal. Come in Luke Shaw.

The multi million dollar question is, who will be the next United superstar? Although we know he must be a goal scorer of considerable talent, this is not as simple a question as it may seem as the role of a forward is clearly changing. Edinson Cavani is the old version, Muller and Reus the new, as well as a mouth watering combination on the pitch this German pair would be a headline writers' dream.

Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo, Rodriguez, Suarez and Sanchez are either already playing this position or will be in future. RVP, Cavani, Klose, Higuain, Benzema and Fred not only will become super-subs in the near future but could become relics of a forgotten art as football now requires complete goalscorers as defenders become more agile and less of a battering ram target.

Which leaves us back where we started – who is the 7 shirt waiting on? One thing is certain, the current crop of United strikers have less chance than United's youth, but, as LVG needs to win now a finisher must be acquired instantly. Will he go for the old type or new to fit the lone striker mould most defences appear to be gearing up to stop?

Juan Cuadrado has played in shirt numbers 11 and 7. Now, where have we seen that before?

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