In the few months that Ralf Rangnick has had his feet under his desk at Old Trafford, the Manchester United interim manager has not been afraid to highlight and draw attention to key problems.
From his maiden press conference, when he immediately highlighted United's need for greater control in matches, to when he called out Anthony Martial for refusing to travel to Villa Park for the Premier League clash with Aston Villa, Rangnick has not been afraid to voice his opinions. But it can only be considered as a good thing as it has shown that a United employee has not been afraid to voice a few home truths about where mistakes have been made.
Another problem that Rangnick has drawn attention to, although it does not take a rocket scientist to realise it, is that United's centre-forward options are not getting any younger. Between them, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani have a combined age of 72-years-old.
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Whilst they have both enjoyed long, lucrative and decorative careers, especially the former, they are now in the twilight years of their careers. Cavani, who has barely played this season, racking up just 17 appearances in all competitions, is set to leave United upon the expiry of his contract in June and uncertainty surrounds Ronaldo's future at the club, especially after United's Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening.
But whatever happens with Ronaldo's future this summer, the club needs to bring in a new striker. United, many moons ago, highlighted the need to bring in a younger option and it was something that Rangnick agreed with last month.
Asked if United need to bring in a younger striker, Rangnick said: "This is obvious. Edinson's contract is running out in the summer, and the club needs the best possible centre-forward.
"This is an obvious one. I think everyone is aware of that."
Since March last year, as revealed by the Manchester Evening News , United have pinpointed Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland as their preferred option to inject fresh blood into their frontline. However, the Norwegian star, who is primed to leave the German giants this summer, is not expected to join the club, with Manchester City and Real Madrid heading the chase for his signature.
Missing out on Haaland will leave United in a difficult position. He is considered as the most exciting striker in the world within his age bracket and natural No.9s are dying out, with more and more clubs selecting formations that favour a false-nine.
Therefore, who do United turn to to lead the line next season? This is where Ronaldo's future at Old Trafford could play a significant part in the Reds' transfer plans.
If the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has hit 18 goals in all competitions, stays at the club he will be expected to continue as United's first-choice striker and leading marksman - and understandably after all he has achieved in his career. But that will have a direct impact on who United bring in to provide competition for him.
Figures such as Harry Kane, who United could rekindle their interest in this summer, and Robert Lewandowski, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, would not join United to play second-fiddle to Ronaldo, unless the new manager adopts a formation with a front-two - which is another dying art in modern-day football. Therefore, if Ronaldo stays, United will be looking for strikers in the mould of Lyon ace Moussa Dembele and Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad, both of whom would probably be happier to be frequent substitutes and provide competition for Ronaldo.
Therefore, United's only hope of securing the "best possible centre-forward" that Rangnick said the club needed could be by Ronaldo leaving. There are, as with anything, pros and cons to keeping Ronaldo - and you could reel off positives for hours.
However, the Reds are at a juncture where they need to consider the long-term future of the club in their efforts to get back into the position they want to be in. At 37, Ronaldo, although he is still hugely talented, is coming towards the end of his carer and it would be fitting for his playing days to draw to a close where Sir Alex Ferguson made him what he has become.
But United need to consider their long-term strategy and signing a world-class centre-forward, who can become the face of their forward-line for years to come, is towards the top of their to-do list this summer. With that said, retaining the services of Ronaldo will have a direct impact on the calibre of striker they bring in, meaning, with respect, it will determine whether they bring in someone of Kane's mould or Dembele's.
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