Michael Owen has suggested that Manchester United could find it difficult to secure a suitable long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 37-year-old, who has scored just two goals so far this season, is out-of-contract next June, although United have the option to extend his stay by an additional year, and is expected to leave Old Trafford. He was determined to leave during the summer transfer window, all in an attempt to rediscover Champions League football.
United, though, made it clear that they were not prepared to sell the Portuguese international. Manager Erik ten Hag, on several occasions during the summer, made it clear that he wanted to retain the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's services.
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But with opportunities having not been as frequent as he would have liked so far this term, there is a growing expectancy that Ronaldo will move on next summer. But regardless of how much longer the former Real Madrid man stays at Old Trafford, United need to source a new goal-getter-in-chief to become the face of their forward line for the future.
Owen, however, believes the Reds could struggle to find the top-level striker they're going to need, suggesting that they might be forced to take a gamble on a player showing plenty of promise, even if not the finish article.
"They're few and far between, 'the next big thing' as a centre-forward," Owen told the Manchester Evening News, in partnership with aceodds.com. "You've either got to get in there quick and take a risk, or you buy the real thing and it costs you an absolute fortune.
"You might not even be able to get them because everybody's after them. So it's a hard balancing act.
"And obviously Manchester United have found themselves in that position over a period of time whereby maybe they don't get first call on the top players at the moment. So they might have to think outside the box.
"And as I say, get somebody that's about to be a top player and buy potential rather than the real deal straight away."
United, originally, had planned to sign now-Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to become their long-term, first choice striker. However, various factors meant that the Reds were out of the running to secure his signature in the most recent transfer window.
"Someone like Erling Haaland, everybody was after him," Owen continued. "But the problem for Manchester United is maybe ten or 20 years ago, everybody just would have gone there at a drop of a hat. Now you get an exceptional talent like Haaland, then he's got the options of lots and lots of teams.
"Who knows where Manchester United were on that list. But you would suggest that if he didn't go to Manchester City, then it might have been Real Madrid. And if it wasn't Real Madrid, it might have been someone else.
"Manchester United aren't necessarily the first choice for somebody like him anymore, so it's very difficult to go and find the next one."
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