Manchester United are rolling along just nicely at the moment. Fresh from winning their first trophy in six years, the Carabao Cup, Erik ten Hag’s side are still in with a chance, albeit a small one, of winning four competitions this term.
Since Christmas, the Red Devils have lost just once across all competitions and this momentum has gone a long way to claiming silverware and improving their Premier League position.
The Dutchman is slowly building a team to be reckoned with, although there is a gaping weakness, he doesn’t have an out-and-out striker who could guarantee him 30 goals a season.
Marcus Rashford has been in sensational form this term, scoring 25 goals in all competitions, yet he is usually deployed on the left wing with on-loan frontman Wout Weghorst or Anthony Martial leading the line, yet they have failed to showcase form that suggests they will be the answer for Ten Hag.
If only he could travel back 20 or so years, one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest signings would complete his side – Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Imagine Ruud van Nistelrooy and Marcus Rashford
The Dutch hitman was signed for a then British record fee of £19m in the summer of 2001 from PSV Eindhoven as one of the continent’s best strikers and should have completed a move to United the season before, however, injury delayed the move for 12 months.
He soon made up for that lost time, netting an incredible 80 goals in his first two seasons, leading United to the Premier League title in 2002/2003.
Overall, his spell at Old Trafford yielded 150 goals from 219 games, and his natural instincts in the penalty area made him one of the most clinical strikers of his generation. Rio Ferdinand lavished praise on his former teammate, saying he was “the most devastating finisher I have ever played with” and his record in England certainly justifies this comment.
Rashford and van Nistelrooy would form an epic partnership right now at United. The Englishman is a major threat from the wing and would certainly provide plenty of assists for the Dutchman to feed off of every game – assisting nine goals so far this season.
Just imagine the pair of them punishing opposition defences with their lethal play in the box – it could have made United almost unstoppable at their best.
Martial and Weghorst aren’t the most clinical of players, with Rashford’s hard work usually going to waste, yet with the Dutchman leading the line, once the ball breaks to him in the box, there is a good chance that it will end up in the back of the net – based on his sensational record for the club.
There is no doubt Ten Hag will be using the summer transfer window to secure a striker that can take the club to the next level, it’s just a pity a prime van Nistelrooy isn’t available, as he could propel the club to wonderful heights.
Now it is time to find the new “devastating” striker to lead the line at Old Trafford…