Manchester United’s quest back to the top has been a gradual process under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Defensive upgrades were the first priority when he took the job permanently two years ago, landing Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in his first summer window.
A creative midfielder was next on the agenda with Bruno Fernandes doing the trick - but now it appears a striker might be what is needed.
With Fernandes providing the bulk of their goals from midfield and Anthony Martial struggling to find the net regularly, many believe an out-and-out goalscoring No.9 is what can take United to the next level.
In a fascinating summer, the Red Devils could have the chance to take a number of directions.
Erling Haaland, considered the top young talent in the position, is set to command a transfer scramble.
Harry Kane, arguably the best in the Premier League, may opt to seek new pastures in order to win trophies.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the ageing superstar, could also be on the market after Juventus ’ Champions League failure.
Factor in several options already within their ranks, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co. could be facing their biggest transfer decision yet at Manchester United.
Here’s a look at the state of play and the potential choices they can make.
Erling Haaland option
Manchester United missed out on Erling Haaland to Borussia Dortmund last January.
But his explosive form since moving to Germany has left little doubts that he is the man everyone wants.
His prolific goalscoring record has led to predictions Haaland and Kylian Mbappe will dominate the game for years to come.
Real Madrid, Manchester City and numerous other top clubs are expected to battle it out for Haaland.
The Norwegian has a £68million release clause that does not activate until 2022 and clubs could break the bank to try and sign him this summer.
Whilst United are not currently a side winning silverware, Haaland has a close relationship with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who handed him his senior debut at Molde.
Earlier this month, Rio Ferdinand urged his former club to break the bank to land Haaland.
“They have got to go out and give everything they have got to get Haaland,” Ferdinand said.
“I don’t like to talk about players that come from other teams but this guy, we [United] can’t afford to let this guy go anywhere else.”
He urged Haaland to “be the guy that brings trophies back to Old Trafford” and admitted: “When a player like Haaland comes around, that’s 10 years’ service.”
Haaland is the most in-demand of United’s options and could therefore be the most costly.
But, aged just 20, he represents the most long-term options who could be around for years to come.
Harry Kane possibility
Harry Kane has been arguably the top striker in the Premier League over the last decade.
But he still hasn’t won a major trophy - and time is running out.
Asked about his future on international duty with England this week, Kane was non-committal, prompting increased speculation he could be considering a move.
"I think that's a hard question to answer right now," Kane said when asked if the speculation around his future will impact his performances.
"I'm fully focussed on doing the job on the pitch from now until the end of the summer, and then we'll see where we go from there.”
Whilst Kane would have no shortage of suitors, Manchester United have long been linked with a move.
As a player at the peak of his powers but also with some mileage left in the tank, Kane would symbolise the ideal signing for United to try and instantly close the gap on rivals Manchester City at the top of the table.
Like Haaland, he would command a huge fee.
Unlike Haaland, however, his resale value in the future would likely be limited given his age.
If United want to become the best once again, however, he might well be worth taking the hit.
Cristiano Ronaldo homecoming
If Haaland is the future and Kane is the present, then it is fair to say Cristiano Ronaldo is closer to being in the past.
The Portuguese superstar is ageing and may no longer be at the very top of his game.
But Ronaldo remains one of the best in the world despite recent Champions League failures at Juventus.
The Serie A champions are reportedly considering offloading Ronaldo and his huge wages, with Real Madrid and Manchester United touted as possible landing spots.
With Madrid expected to prioritise younger talent, that could give United an opportunity.
It would mean taking on the same problem Juventus are currently enduring - a huge outlay on wages with little prospect of a return on that investment given his age.
The 36-year-old, however, remains an icon at Old Trafford and his arrival would symbolise a serious boost to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s title aspirations.
Just this month, Solskjaer admitted he would love to have his former team-mate in his side.
Solskjaer said: “There’s a few players I’ve played with that I’d love to have in my team, of course.
“I’d love the player Roy Keane, I’m not sure if I could manage him though. I’d sign him every day of the week, Roy was so influential but then again, I played with Cristiano [Ronaldo] and he’s been the best player in the world alongside Messi for the past 10-15 years now, so Cristiano.
“You’d take him in your team, for sure.”
You certainly would, and whilst maybe not the smartest business move available, resigning Ronaldo would be hard to turn down from a footballing standpoint.
Stick with what you’ve got
Speculation is rife and big names will be on the market, but are United guaranteed to spend big on a striker?
The Red Devils already have Anthony Martial, who cost big money as a teenager, as well as the experienced Edinson Cavani and youngster Mason Greenwood.
Martial has been up and down but shown flashes of what he is capable of in big games.
Cavani has been blighted by injuries and a suspension in his debut season and linked with a return to South America, but if he stays put he offers a different option.
The experience of Cavani also gives a chance to ease Greenwood into the first-team, with hopes he could be a No.9 in the future.
Greenwood is widely regarded as the best finisher at the club, including by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Both Solskjaer and new technical director Darren Fletcher see a future for him through the middle, with Fletcher previously predicting he could become “world-class”.
“I’m sure Mason’s evolution is to be a No.9. He’s got world-class potential,” Fletcher told Sky Sports last year.
“The fact he can go both ways – not many strikers can go naturally onto their left foot and naturally onto their right foot and finish it. He’s a defender’s nightmare.”
Solskjaer also said last year: “He can play through the middle as well. I think, as a young boy, not physically grown yet, it is nice to be facing forward rather than being the No.9, the foil; being the battering ram if you like.
“So I think he’ll end up as a No.9 in the end, probably. But he’s so good with his right and left, so he can come in off his right and left, or through the middle. I scored most of my goals from just outside the post as well, I wasn’t in the middle.”
With high hopes for Greenwood, a proven short-term solution in Cavani and plenty of untapped potential in Martial, it could be that United decline the big-name options in order to focus their resources elsewhere.
