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Sir Alex Ferguson encourages his former club Manchester United to sign a new striker to ease the burden on goal machine Marcus Rashford.
Sir Alex Ferguson has encouraged his former club Manchester United to sign a new striker to ease the burden on goal machine Marcus Rashford.
The Red Devils ended their six-year wait for silverware by securing a 2-0 win over Newcastle United in Sunday’s EFL Cup final at Wembley, with Rashford on the scoresheet after being awarded their second goal which was initially ruled as an own goal by Sven Botman.
The England international has now scored 17 goals in 19 appearances for Man United since the World Cup break, with his latest strike at Wembley taking his goal tally for the season to 25 in 38 games across all competitions – his best scoring season with the Red Devils.
Ferguson has heaped praise on Rashford for his electric form in front of goal this season, but the legendary Scotsman has suggested that the Red Devils should target another frontman ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Many have questioned what Rashford’s best position is for Man United, but Ferguson believes the Englishman is “not a striker” and is best suited to operate on the left flank, where he has predominantly played under Ten Hag this season.
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“I don’t think he’s a striker,” the 81-year-old told Sky Sports after Sunday’s EFL Cup final. “He operates from the left-hand side fantastic, his finishing is always good, always keeps his shots down which is really important for a striker.”
Ferguson added: “He’s in a great vein of form. Unfortunately for us, he’s the main source of goals, we could do with an extra one. But he is doing it.”
The Scotsman, who won a remarkable 38 trophies during his legendary 26-year spell in charge of Man United, has been impressed with Ten Hag’s management of the side in his first season and has praised the recruitment by the club under the Dutchman.
“United is based on success and he’s gone the right way about it,” Ferguson added. “His signings have been really good – I think that was important – and he’s got a grip of the club which is really big for him.
“You come to United and you try to get off to a good start right away. He’s done really well, he really has.”
Ten Hag currently has Wout Weghorst and Anthony Martial as his centre-forward options, but both players are believed to be facing uncertain futures at the club, with the former expected to leave when his loan deal from Burnley expires at the end of the season.
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The Dutchman is understood to have drawn up a six-player shortlist of targets ahead of the summer transfer window, which allegedly includes Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.
Kane recently became Spurs’ all-time leading goalscorer and increased his tally to 268 when he found the net in the 2-0 win over Chelsea last weekend.
The 29-year-old, who has scored 20 goals in 34 games so far this season, is yet to win a major trophy in his professional career and with less than 18 months remaining on his contract, there have been suggestions that the Englishman could seek pastures new in the prime years of his career.
Kane is believed to be valued in excess of £100m by Tottenham, a similar valuation that Napoli have for goal machine Osimhen, who has been a standout performer for the Serie A leaders this season, netting 21 times in 25 games across all competitions.
The 24-year-old is under contract in Naples until June 2025 and the Italian outfit have no interest in selling their star asset, who has also attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Man United have also been credited with an interest in Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, while Benfica‘s Goncalo Ramos and Ajax‘s Mohammed Kudus are also said to be on Ten Hag’s radar.
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