Manchester United step up striker search with Harry Kane, Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Thomas Muller their top targets for a big-money transfer

Home Top

WIMBLEDON LIVE: Djokovic holds off Federer charge to win first set as world No 1 bids to deny Swiss rival a record eighth title
Sterling bids farewell to Liverpool team-mates as forward skips summer tour to complete £45m move to rivals Man City
OLIVER HOLT: England sparkle in the sun to signal start of exciting new era
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest stories from home and abroad
Robson: Bastian is top drawer... he can lead United back to the very top
United begin discussions with Benfica over Gaitan... and Rafael could go in opposite direction, claims agent
Stop criticism of Sterling: If you want loyalty, put a Labrador on the wing
Man United target Ramos travels with Real Madrid for pre-season tour
Stoke confirm signing of Johnson as former Liverpool defender signs two-year deal with Hughes' side
All aboard! Van Persie flies to Istanbul on a private jet to put pen to paper at Fenerbahce
Schweinsteiger's trophy cabinet is full and he's a born winner... his arrival at United is summer's first major coup
Hingis wins her first Wimbledon title since 1998 as she and Mirza fight back to seal doubles glory on Centre Court
More Murray misery as Jamie and doubles partner Peers are beaten
Murray is ready to roar back as part of Team GB in Davis Cup quarter-finals
McGregor lands left hand from hell to stop Mendes in second round of Vegas title fight
Casillas in tears as Real legend bids emotional farewell
My son is too good for 'third-tier' side Porto, claims Casillas' mum!
England name unchanged squad for second Ashes Test at Lord's
Lehmann bemoans Cardiff pitch and hopes Lord's has more bounce
Gerrard plays 45 minutes on LA Galaxy debut as former Liverpool team-mate Keane scores stunning goal in friendly victory
Depay paints town Red as fellow United new-boy Darmian also heads out after sealing move
Man United manager Ferguson wanted by SFA for ambassadorial role
Schweinsteiger coup fails to hide the striking gap in Van Gaal's squad
Bayern fans jeered decision to sell Schweinsteiger... and I expected it, reveals chief Rummenigge

Manchester United are on the look-out for a new striker this summer
Radamel Falcao has left the club and Robin van Persie is set to exit too
His expected move to Fenerbahce leaves Louis van Gaal short of options
Top forwards Thomas Muller, Edinson Cavani, Harry Kane, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema are United's most likely options

Published: 05:57 EST, 10 July 2015 | Updated: 07:58 EST, 10 July 2015

340

View
comments

Manchester United have already signed Memphis Depay this summer but with Robin van Persie set to join Radamel Falcao in leaving the club, the search for a striker is now Louis van Gaal's priority.

Wayne Rooney will be the only first-team striker left from last season's senior trio when the Barclays Premier League restarts next month and now United must find at least one man to join him.

With almost unlimited riches available, Van Gaal can take his pick of the world's top talent. Here, Sportsmail looks at their top five targets to fill the No 9 role this summer.

Robin van Persie looks set to follow Radamel Falcao out of Manchester United; now they need a striker

Louis van Gaal will need to boost his forward line next season with a new world-class hitman at Old Trafford

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

Price tag: £45million

A brilliant breakthrough campaign at Tottenham has brought Kane into United's thinking, as Sportsmail revealed back in May.

United would expect to pay upwards of £45million but in return Van Gaal would get a homegrown talent with the potential to lead the line at Old Trafford for more than a decade.

Kane represents a risk but it is one cash-rich United could easily afford and after 33 goals last season the 21-year-old could prove an excellent partner for Rooney for club and country.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been in United's thinking after a brilliant breakthrough season

The England forward could link up with Wayne Rooney after spending his holiday with girlfriend Kate Gooders

Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)

Price tag: £50m

The Uruguayan striker has long been linked with Europe's top clubs after making it clear he does not enjoy playing in the wide role that Paris Saint-Germain tend to stick him in.

Cavani would perhaps be the most accessible of United's targets but that doesn't mean he would come cheap with the French champions keen to recoup much of their £55.6m outlay from 2013.

The 28-year-old has a proven scoring record in Italy and France but concerns remain over his ability on the big occasions with a disappointing Copa America the latest example.

Edinson Cavani is always linked with Europe's top clubs but Paris Saint-Germain are yet to cash in on him

Cavani flattered to deceive at the Copa America and there are concerns about his big game performances

Manchester Utd target Edinson Cavani scores screamer for PSG

Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)

Price tag: £67m

Napoli have made it clear they will only let Higuain go if a £67m bid comes in to trigger his release clause - an expensive price tag but one that United may be tempted to try to drag down.

The Argentine has experience at the highest level with Real Madrid and his country while his age, 27, suggest his best years could be still to come.

The lack of great alternatives on the market make the move more attractive and Higuain's average of a goal a game throughout his career provides a proven option.

Gonzalo Higuain would cost Van Gaal £67million at his current price tag but they could pull that down

The Argentine striker celebrates after scoring against Jamaica at the Copa America last month

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Price tag: £40m

United asked about Benzema last month and were flatly told he wasn't for sale but with Rafa Benitez bringing in his own ideas the Frenchman may see fit to push for a move if his situation changes.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager wants to try out Cristiano Ronaldo in the No 9 role that Benzema currently occupies which may open up an option for a £40m switch to Old Trafford.

He has played with Angel di Maria before at the Bernabeu and the pair could link up again to help reignite the Argentine midfielder's form after a disappointing first year.

United have already asked Real Madrid about signing Karim Benzema but were told he was not for sale

But France striker Benzema may find his situation compromised by Rafa Benitez's new system in Madrid

Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)

Price tag: £60m

Muller has spoken of his happiness with the Bundesliga champions but a reunion with Van Gaal may appeal if a reported rift with Bayern boss Pep Guardiola worsens.

The Germany international would offer more versatility than United's other options but that would come at a cost of around £60m.

The 25-year-old has experience beyond his years having won the World Cup, Champions League and four Bundesliga titles that could help as United try to recapture the Premier League crown.

Thomas Muller is back in pre-season training with Bayern Munich but United could be keen on a move for him

The German forward has experience of winning trophies that United may need to win next season's title

Thomas Muller scores hat-trick against Frankfurt

P.S. What's next for Javier Hernandez and James Wilson?

Javier Hernandez

United are looking to sell the Mexican forward after his mixed loan spell at Real Madrid last season.

Hernandez has had surgery on a broken collarbone suffered on international duty but that hasn't put off Sevilla who have made an £8m approach.

Javier Hernandez is likely to head for the exit door after a mixed loan spell in Spain with Real Madrid

James Wilson

There is interest in taking Wilson on loan from a number of Premier League clubs but Van Gaal could give him another opportunity this season after he impressed in patches last time around.

The 19-year-old academy product got ahead of Falcao in the pecking order at times and will hope a new signing doesn't force him out of the manager's thinking.