Erik ten Hag stresses Manchester United must sign ‘the right’ replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo

Signing a striker is a priority for Manchester United but manager Erik ten Hag insists the club must bring in “the right one”.

The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last month has left Ten Hag with a depleted attacking force and the Dutchman has revealed United will actively be looking for a new acquisition – even if there are many exciting talents at the club including Alejandro Garnacho, Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri.

“Two things,” Ten Hag said. “Impulse can come out of our own club, see Garnacho, see Elanga, see Pellistri, who made a good impression at the World Cup and also in training. That is first.

“Second, yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one.

“The right one is a player that brings quality to the team, not just adding to the squad because that only gives you problems. And, you know the criteria is high here at Manchester United.”

Ten Hag also believes that Marcus Rashford is capable of scoring 20 goals in the Premier League this season.

The England international only has four to his name so far but he returns from the World Cup in fine form having struck three times in Qatar and marked his return to club football with a fine solo effort in the 2-0 win over Burnley in the Carabao Cup.

“I don’t want to pin myself on a number,” Ten Hag added. “I said it from the start, Rashford is capable of scoring 20 goals in the Premier League, I am convinced about that.

“He now has four, but he has many other goals, he scored three at the World Cup, so he has the potential to also score that number of goals in the Premier League.”

United, currently sitting fifth in the table, have scored 20 goals in 14 games, half that of neighbours Manchester City, and Ten Hag is acutely aware that his side need to find the net more frequently.

“We are aware we have to score more goals, we have to improve many more of our own elements in football. We have to be more decisive. You worry when you don’t create chances, but it is clear we have to score more.

“When I analyse the first 20 games, we had a lot of problems in the front line, often I had nothing to choose, or players weren’t 100 per cent and I still had to play them.

“That was a problem during the first 20 games this season. When we get better availability of fit players in the front line, we will score more goals.”

Manchester United’s Premier League campaign continues on Tuesday night when they host Nottingham Forest.