LOU Macari believes United should steer clear of the summer sales madness unless they can land a striking cert.

Italian hitman Fabio Quagliarella is the latest in an extensive list of strikers linked with a move to United during the close-season.

Quagliarella joins an ever-growing group of front men supposedly on the Reds' radar after Old Trafford chief executive David Gill revealed that, following the club's £50m-plus outlay on Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson, the forward ranks would be the only area strengthened now.

Quagliarella is the latest name on the list of potential imports that includes, in no particular order, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Dimitar Berbatov, Fernando Torres, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Carlos Tevez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But Macari is sceptical of crazy summer shopping.

"Everyone is talking about United's urgent need for a new striker, but finding someone is easier said than done," Macari told M.E.N. Sport.

"I think the Darren Bent situation sums it all up. Charlton allegedly accepted a £16m-plus-a-player offer from West Ham for him. Tottenham are also keen.

"All of a sudden Bent is worth around £18m! I am sorry but he isn't. If you'd told me not so long ago that Darren Bent would be in demand and worth that kind of money I would have said you were bonkers. He isn't worth that much but it just shows the lack of strikers out there on the market. He's available and not many others are so his price goes up.

"Take Bent out of the equation and there aren't many goalscorers on offer this summer. If that is the kind of money you are talking for him then the kind who'd improve United would cost a fortune.

Speculation

"The speculation was that the Reds had been looking all campaign for more firepower, but it shows the lack of strikers about that they got Henrik Larsson on loan.

"That was a great piece of business. A cost-nothing quality player with pedigree. If you can hit on a player like that for a long-term contract then you've done a great piece of transfer work.

"But opportunities like that out of the blue don't happen often and certainly permanent deals like the Larsson one don't come up every day either.

"United need a player who can go in on the opening day of the Premiership season and be ready to do the job. They can't afford to be taking a gamble.

"They need a racing cert.

"But you don't really get those either. Most new strikers would be an experiment and when you need to be out of the blocks quickly in the Premiership like we have seen in recent seasons then there is no time to be testing and putting players on trial.

"That's why in one way I hope United don't jump into this mad scramble and join the race for over-inflated priced strikers who could be a gamble.

"If you do that and it fails, you are open to criticism. It's a difficult one for Sir Alex or any manager."

With cost and complications muddying the waters for any potential newcomer, Macari believes United wouldn't be left punchless if they stuck with what they have got.

"I don't think the need to bring in another goalscoring body is as imperative as people are making out," he added.

"Scoring goals wasn't a problem for United last season. In fact it was the key to winning the title.

United

"The Reds scored more than anybody else and did okay in Europe in that department as well.

"Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo scored plenty and you look at the rest on the books and it is a good unit.

"If Louis Saha is fit and well then you have a powerful centre forward who can score goals. If Alan Smith stays then you have an energetic front man who'll run all day for you and in little Guiseppe Rossi there is a lad there who can score goals. And then you still have Ole Solskjaer to come in a do his bit now and again.

"The combinations are good. What United already have are capable of mounting the same challenge again."

The case of Rossi is a tricky one for Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

He sent him on what proved to be an unhappy loan spell at Newcastle last term when he was hardly used in the senior side.

But Rossi then moved to Italy and aided Parma's successful Serie A relegation fight.

The Italian club wants the 20-year-old back permanently next season after he scored nine goals in 19 appearances, but Macari would like to see the American-born striker, who has been playing for Italy's youngsters in the European Under-21 tournament in Holland, get a shot at Old Trafford.

"It's tough for Rossi because the start of the season is no time for trials and experiments and he has yet to prove himself in the Premiership," he said.

"He had a fantastic reserve record but as I have always said the standard of the reserve league these days doesn't tell you anything about being able to cope in the Premiership.

"If it was as tough as it used to be and he had that record I would say he was ready for it without question. But we don't know for sure.

"His nine goals in Italy though are a pointer.

"However, there is no doubt the lad is a goalscorer. But he needs an extended run in the side and it is difficult to know when he can get that.

"But it would only be the same gamble as buying Fabio Quagliarella.

"He is an even bigger unknown quantity and would cost a lot of money.

"United's striker search is an interesting one but I wouldn't be too concerned if nothing comes of it by August."

Which of these strikers would you most like to see at United? Have your say.