Sir Alex Ferguson's Premiership champions are facing a nail-biting and expensive summer effort to install a new forward - and potential sellers are well aware of the Reds' pursuit of more goal power.
Of course, any attack that contains the world-class talents of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo can't be too badly off.
Sir Alex was unable to land a replacement for the prolific goal-poacher Ruud van Nistelrooy last summer.
But, without the Dutchman, Rooney and Ronaldo bagged 23 goals each - both personal bests - while Louis Saha contributed 13, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 11 and Alan Smith one.
And with the other departments weighing in, United were able to outshoot all their Premiership rivals to lift the title.
But with pre-season prepartions for the 2007-08 season around a month away there are more than a few question marks hovering over the striking ranks.
New signings Nani and Anderson are both attacking players, but the quartet of Saha, Solskjaer, Smith and Giuseppe Rossi - who spent most of last season out on loan - are causes for concern.
Saha made only two substitute appearances in United's last 18 games of the season and scored just one goal in 2007.
Battle
His battle with a hamstring injury frustrated the club's fans and manager alike and his knee injury in training towards the end of the season ruled him out of the FA Cup Final.
There is now a fear that the French striker may not even be fit in time for the start of the new term in August.
Solskjaer had another clean-out operation on his creaking knee this week after suffering discomfort in training with Norway.
The 34-year-old has vowed to return in time for the start of pre-season training, but has hinted the new campaign could be his last.
It is now plain to see that the Reds won't be able to rely on their legend as a regular 90-minute man.
United have told Smith they will not be re-negotiating his contract as had allegedly been promised.
Though the 26-year-old still has two years left on his current Old Trafford deal, it is clear the Yorkshireman could be on his way out with Spurs, Everton, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough all reportedly interested in paying for his services. The Reds could have the promising Rossi back from Parma, where he has been on loan since January.
Impressed
The 20-year-old scored nine goals in 19 games in Serie A and so impressed Parma coach Claudio Ranieri that the Italian - who this week chose to move to Juventus instead of City - is keen on taking him with him to his new post at the Stadio delle Alpi.
If the Reds allowed that to happen, that would leave Rooney - backed by Ronaldo and the new signings - as the only recognised, reliable striker that Fergie can bank on for next season without some kind of issue hanging over him.
Smith's contract snub and Solskjaer's predicament will not have gone unnoticed by clubs who have them in their sights.
Ajax's Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Dimitar Berbatov of Spurs and Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid) remain the trio most heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Having secured Nani, who has passed a medical and now requires internatuional clearance, and Anderson, who is expected to secure a work permit, as well as Owen Hargreaves early, Fergie will want his squad fully assembled by the time United's pre-season matches kick off in July.
The club have so far announced eight games on their warm up calendar, beginning with three matches on their Far East tour.
They are : July 17 v Urawa Red Diamonds (A); July 20 v FC Seoul (A); July 23 v Shenzhen Xiangxue Eisiti (A); August 1 v Internazionale (H); August 3 v Doncaster (A); August 5 v Chelsea (Community Shield at Wembley); August 8 v Glentoran (Belfast); August 8 United XI v Dunfermline (Edinburgh).
Whether Fergie has a new addition by then, or he is waiting to see how his questionable quartet respond, remains to be seen.
Do you think United have a strikers problem, and if so how should they solve it? Have your say.
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Red Max (07/06/2007 at 09:17)
edinburgh red, edinburgh (07/06/2007 at 09:37)
Lee , Heywood, Heywood (07/06/2007 at 09:39)
JJ (07/06/2007 at 09:40)
Tomas, Aarhus, Denmark (07/06/2007 at 09:42)
spoonofmilk, Exeter (07/06/2007 at 09:45)
I sincerely hope that Rossi is given his shot next year. He's been patient, was wasted by Newcastle and has proven he can score in a top league... now's the time to give him his shot.
Hilton (07/06/2007 at 09:52)
United have snubed Alan Smith contract extension.
Smith was trying to force United's hand. Smith was making too much noise about the contract extension all week, because he was with the England National team he thought it was a perfect opportunity for him. Yet he is not even good for England.
Essex Prawn, Billerciay (07/06/2007 at 10:08)
Robbo, North Stand (07/06/2007 at 10:10)
Reds4ever, Entrance N410 (07/06/2007 at 10:11)
RCH, Salford (07/06/2007 at 10:14)
Zeph, Singapore (07/06/2007 at 10:20)
Whether in a personal-favorite 4-2-3-1 formation or not, our attacking style promises more flair and more fluid play. And this is not assuming that Anderson and Nani will be instant hits at OT. Rather, even if they take time to settle, they indubitably add attacking options (as subs or as alternate starters) to make our existing squad of attacking geniuses more productive (from rest, competition for play time, etc).
So, with no Larsson, less Solskjaer, and a more fluid style of play, the question is do we let go AS and/or Saha, do we loan out Rossi, and do we buy another striker.
My personal view on this is that we keep one of Smith/Saha and give the young Giuseppe more play time. If we can get someone like Eto'o, that's great, but i have reservations about F. Torres and Huntelaar simply isn't compatible with our play anymore.
Our young wingers Ronaldo, Nani, Anderson (i see him on the flank quite often especially in the early years at OT), are not the run-to-the-byeline and bang in crosses type of players. Neither is the mature Giggsy. So we simply do not need a target man. As for set-piece aerial presence, we have Vidic, to a less extent Ferdy and hopefully Pique.
Anyway, there's breaking news that Klose is set for Bayern, so the best option (for a target) is gone. The Hunter is less an aerial bomber but still a target type so i say no to Klass-Jan.
What we need in a second striker (second to Rooney) is pace, flair, and creativity to fit in our system. Eto'o would be great but is pricey. F. Torres, i'm not so sure about.
What about Smith? i think he is not right for us. Some say we need him to jostle with the likes of J. Terry in the box, i say we need a striker who can move into space, not a jostler. If we were to go for a battering ram-type, we need a calibre of Drogba, not a Smith.
Keeping Saha is a viable option, in my view. He can get the job done, just needs to remain free of the physios.
The option that really gets me going is playing Rossi. Again, i see our future dominant formation as a 4-2-3-1 and Rossi could be a great one-top in a flowing system. He has the pace, the flair, the creativity, the technique.
I say help Smith find new pastures, he deserves it. Keep Saha as Rooney's backup, play Rossi when we can, and only go for a new striker if he is eto'o calibre. Rooney can play the lone striker for now. Eventually Rossi or a new striker can take his role with Rooney to fill in one of the 3 attacking midfielder roles while rotating with Nani, Anderson, Ronaldo.
Our new attacking scheme only requires one striker per se. Rooney, Saha, Rossi, and Solskjaer is enough. We can even let Smith find play time elsewhere. Having said that, i would be excited by an Eto'o class signing for sure, in which case Saha would need to go as well.
Michio, County Louth (07/06/2007 at 10:31)
It's speculation that says Saha might be sold, speculation that Smith will be sold, speculation that Rossi will go on loan to Port or Juve, speculation that we'll buy Eto'o or Berbatov or Huntelaar or Anelka or Trezeguet or the bloke down the pub who talks a good game.
Silly season.
AOA (07/06/2007 at 10:35)
Free Red, Manchester (07/06/2007 at 10:43)
edinburgh red, edinburgh (07/06/2007 at 11:07)
red devil, Salford (07/06/2007 at 11:16)
Lee , Heywood, Heywood (07/06/2007 at 11:19)
Xs, Mauritius (07/06/2007 at 11:30)
Red Dawn (07/06/2007 at 11:36)
The word from Old Trafford is that he will be returning and staying from next season onward.
If we play the expected 4-2-3-1, then Rossi could cover both wides of the 3 and play as the one also, so his versatility will ofcourse appeal to Sir Alex.
I really don't think we need another striker, as there are so many goalscorers in the team now that we don't need to rely on just one man, like we did in the Ruud Era.
Don't believe a word of what was printed about Smith not being offered a new deal, as that came from the infamous SUN, so "enough said" should be the reply.
Gerard Pique will also return to OT, but I believe the manager may play him as cover for Carrick and Hargreaves, in the holding roll, as he has played there for Zaragoza and done very well. Obviously he can also play centre back and right back, so his versatility will also appeal to Sir Alex.
If you look at the squad in depth as it stands for next season, we are well covered in all positions.
Keepers: Van Der Sar/Kuszczak/Foster (obviosuly out)
Right back: G.Neville/O'Shea
Centre back: Vidic/Ferdinand/Brown/Evans
Left Back: Evra/Silvestre (I expect Heinze to leave).
Holding Midfield: Hargreaves/Carrick/Fletcher/Pique
Right wing: Ronaldo/Park
Attacking Mid: Scholes/Anderson
Left Wing: Giggs/Nani/Richardson (may be sold)
Striker: Rooney/Smith/Rossi/Solskjaer
All in all we are well covered, and if you look at the team, maybe the area we are lightest in is right back, unless Bardsley and Simpson are to return, but are they ready for the step up yet.
There shouldn't be any concern over goalscoring/need for a striker.
JonyB-), North Staffs (07/06/2007 at 11:53)
You've got to be fair - Is richardson good enough - NO, is fletcher good enough - YES as Squad player, NO as 1st 11. The selection of players you've mentioned - dome will be sacrificed - no Doubt, but its us fans Demanding more and more and buy this player and that player - we don't allow time to develop youth players. You bring a youth team through in a european game - you get crucified for not having strength of depth, and to be fair UTD rarely seem to produce striker talent because fans want the best straight away - look at the castigation of Smith rather than let hime develop what talents he has!?? Rossi is one player who'll maybe make it - i honestly don't believe its SAF's desire to sell him IMO. Other players if you listen to the bbuzz about youth teams suggest Gibson, Evans, EAgles, Cathcart & Pique as ones with a genuine chance. The rest have potential but ma not make it with us. But you look at other top teams then who else brings through players so regularly?? Chelski and 'Pool - NO. Arsenal - yes young players but not many from Nrth London - Most youth buys from abroad - we know Wengers development of Brittish youth started and stopped at Ca$hly Cole - Look at the Maumba fellow whos gone to Birmingham - done brilliant - probably at Evans standard - THEY sell him immediately. Alot of lower teams buy average or aging foreigners to supplement squads as brittish players too expensive. I'd love us to ship out players like silvestre & richardson but will fans forgive the management if in our last(or next!) injury crisis our defence is KitKat, Simpson, Evans, Pique, Evra?? I'd be happy if fergie though they could manage - hopefully ith the experience they've gained - they will one day! Lower teams can put a team like that out and lose and not be slaughtered - UTD wouldnt, and bardsley 4 utd - get real mate IMO.
JonyB-), North Staffs (07/06/2007 at 11:55)
Not seen anything of this guy but seen the odd positive report - what sort of player is he?? how would he fit into the team at mo??
Mick Red, London (07/06/2007 at 11:58)
Saha for me is not what we need, great when he is fit, but he spends more time unfit, hence my comment that he is not for Utd.
I think we do need to buy a striker but who I have no idea
Reds4ever, Entrance N410 (07/06/2007 at 11:58)
AOA (07/06/2007 at 11:58)