If Manchester United sell club legend and wantaway star Cristiano Ronaldo in the upcoming January 2023 transfer window, there’s a good chance that they will not be in a better position than they are now. However, selling Ronaldo would leave them no other choice than to buy a new striker, and there are a few potential options available.
If the Red Devils, who are currently managed by Erik ten Hag, can make a strategic signing after the possible exit of Ronaldo in January, it could leave them in a better position, but it’s hard to say. Take a closer look right here.
What striker options do Man United currently have?
Manchester United’s up front selection is currently one of the worst in the top half of the Premier League. If you take Cristiano Ronaldo out of the equation, you are left with Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony (Antony Matheus dos Santos), and Anthony Martial. Other striker options that can also be used as potential back-ups are Anthony Elanga, Shola Shoretire, and Alejandro Garnacho.
What happens if Ronaldo leaves in January?
The 37-year-old Portuguese international is coming to the end of his career anyway, so Manchester United should already be thinking about replacing him with another, much younger striker. Ronaldo may not feature in the starting line-up very often, but he has been a key player in many games since rejoining the club back in August 2021.
The prolific striker has come off the bench on several occasions to net the winner or grab an important assist, but he has fallen out of favour with current manager Erik ten Hag, who possibly already has a few replacements in mind. If you would like to watch the Red Devils in action this year, either in the Premier League or in the Europa League, don’t forget that you still have time to purchase reasonably priced tickets for upcoming games. Simply click here for the latest ticket prices and availability.
Who can Man United get to replace Ronaldo?
There has been a lot of speculation about who Manchester United might bring in as a replacement for Ronaldo, but it’s hard to find any accurate information about who the club might like to sign. However, the more sites you visit, the more names you start to hear being repeated. One such striker that United could potentially try and sign in the upcoming January transfer window is Englishman Ivan Toney, who currently plays at a domestic level for Premier League rivals Brentford.
Some of the other names that have also been suggested are 20-year-old Czech Republic international player Adam Hložek, who currently plays for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Other potential new forward signings include 21-year-old Portuguese U21 player Gonçalo Ramos who currently plays in the Primeira Liga for Benfica.
You also have 19-year-old Uruguayan international player Matías Arezo who plays for the Segunda División side Granada, as well as 20-year-old German international star Karim Adeyemi who plays in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund. These new signings wouldn’t cost Manchester United an arm and a leg, and they could be the perfect fit.