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Should Manchester United stick with Cristiano Ronaldo beyond the end of the 2021-22 season? He has not scored in the last five games and has contributed nothing of note in that period. If anything, he has hampered the Red Devils' attacking flow.
Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United in the summer is a possibility
Cristiano Ronaldo signed a two-year contract when he returned to Manchester United last summer from Juventus on a deal worth €15 million. While he chipped in with some vital goals in the early stages of the new season, he has been pretty lackluster of late.
He also turned 37 last week and it is starting to feel a lot like he has entered the final chapter of his footballing career. Ronaldo has scored just two goals in his last nine appearances for Manchester United.
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The Red Devils desperately need a prolific striker with a high conversion rate because they are struggling to put away their chances.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five players who could replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.
#5 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Under normal circumstances, Erling Haaland would be a leading contender to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. The Borussia Dortmund striker is arguably the most sought-after striker in the world and is one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world.
However, he is represented by super agent Mino Raiola, who shares a fractured relationship with Manchester United. Raiola has undermined the club far too many times while talking about his client Paul Pogba.
Haaland will be a major upgrade on Ronaldo since the Portuguese has lost that yard of pace which could make all the difference in the final third.
Haaland will also want to join a project where he will win a lot of trophies and Manchester United are not there yet. However, a €70 million release clause in his contract will come into operation this summer and Manchester United are welcome to try their luck as well.
#4 Mauro Icardi (Paris Saint-Germain)
It wasn't long ago that Mauro Icardi was regarded as one of the finest strikers in Europe. However, his move to PSG in 2019 has not really worked out to anyone's liking. The 28 year old has fallen down the pecking order following Lionel Messi's arrival last summer and has been largely demoted to the bench this term.
He has started just 10 games in Ligue 1 this season. It is being widely reported that Icardi will leave PSG this summer. He was reportedly desperate to leave PSG last summer as well. In 86 matches across all competitions for the Ligue 1 giants, Icardi has scored 38 goals and provided 10 assists.
The best thing about Icardi is that he won't cost Manchester United a fortune and they wouldn't need to refrain from strengthening other departments. Icardi is a great header of the ball like Cristiano Ronaldo and his predatory instincts inside the box are commendable as well.
#3 Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry is reportedly unsettled at Bayern Munich. The Bavarians recently extended Kingsley Coman's contract until 2027. Gnabry believes he is also due a big-money extension.
Sky Sports Germany claims that Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona have registered an interest in the 26 year old. He has scored 59 goals and provided 38 assists in 154 appearances across all competitions for Bayern Munich so far.
Manchester United's right wing problems continue to persist, with Jadon Sancho proving to be more adept on the left than the right. If Ronaldo is let go, then Rashford can possibly take up the number 9's role or Bruno Fernandes could play as a number 10 or false nine with two wide forwards ahead of him.
The club are also looking to find a long-term replacement for Mason Greenwood as well and will therefore not be too concerned about breaking the bank.
#2 Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad)
Alexander Isak has garnered a lot of attention from Europe's top clubs of late. According to The Mirror, Manchester United have identified Isak as the ideal candidate to replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.
The 22 year old has only scored eight goals and provided two assists in 27 appearances across all competitions this term. However, he has a lot of potential and would be a great addition to the United frontline thanks to his pace and skill on the ball.
He'd gel well with the young Manchester United attackers and could make them deadly on the counter. However, Isak won't come for cheap as Real Sociedad are hoping to spark a bidding war in the summer for him.
He is reportedly likely to cost Manchester United as much as €75 million. The Red Devils have shelled out more than that for much less in the past, haven't they?
#1 Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)
Joao Felix is Atletico Madrid's most expensive signing of all time. They roped him in from Benfica in the summer of 2019 for a sum of €127.2 million. The Portuguese international has shown flashes of his genius but has not been able to sustain high performance levels over an extended period of time.
As a result, he has fallen out of favour at Atletico Madrid and is tipped to leave the club in the summer. Felix still has four years remaining on his contract and Atletico Madrid are looking to sell him and recoup a large chunk of the fee they paid to secure his services a few years back.
Although Felix couldn't find his feet at Atletico Madrid, he'll receive plenty of opportunities at Manchester United. His agent Jorge Mendes shares a good working relationship with the Red Devils as well.
Joao Felix is a lot like Cristiano Ronaldo from his early days at Manchester United. If he is given the right kind of platform and provided with a nurturing environment, sky is the limit for the youngster.
