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Could Manchester United start the new season with Wayne Rooney and Dimi Berbatov as their first-choice strikeforce and just Macheda and Danny Welbeck as cover?
The scenario has become a likelihood according to Fleet Street after Real Madrid's capture of Karim Benzema prompted a number of broadsheet newspapers to predict that, short of options and reluctant to pay over the odds, Sir Alex Ferguson will not reinforce his arsenal after missing out on Benzema.
A refusal to add to his strikeforce in the summer that he has lost both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez would constitute one of the bravest/most remarkable gambles Ferguson has ever taken in his twenty-year reign at Old Trafford. However, Fleet Street is unanimous in its belief that Benzema's decision to move to Spain has left United reeling and short of options.
'Benzema's decision is a huge blow to United, who are understood to have made him their No 1 target after selling Ronaldo to Madrid for £80m,' reports The Daily Mail. 'It is also a further indication of both Madrid's ambition and the shift of power to the Spanish league.'
Only The Guardian says that United did not enter - and lose - a bidding war with Madrid for the French youngster. 'Ferguson's long-standing admiration for the 21-year-old Lyon player never manifested itself in the form of a concerted attempt to bring him to Old Trafford as a replacement for Carlos Tevez,' the newspaper claims. 'Instead, United have left Madrid unchallenged to add yet another striker to their already bloated squad.'
However, that soothing account is flatly contradicted by every other daily-selling publication. 'Once United became aware that Lyon had accepted Real's bid they then submitted an offer of 40 million euros (£35 million),' says The Daily Telegraph. 'However Benzema was already too far progressed in his discussions with Real, having also spoken to United, and the Spanish club were also willing to add extra payments, depending on targets and bonuses, which meant their bid came in slightly higher than United's.'
So who does Ferguson turn to next?
Probably nobody declares The Times in something of a bombshell announcement:
'Ferguson, the United manager, has made it clear privately that he will not pay over the odds, or be forced into signing a striker if the right one is not available, just because of the departures of Ronaldo and Carlos Tévez.
'Some well-placed sources have claimed that Ferguson may not even sign a striker this summer and will instead look to Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov to spearhead United's attack next season. Injuries to either player, however, would leave his front line severely depleted.'
Although David Villa, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Sergio Agüero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Samuel Eto'o and even Michael Owen are all mooted as possible alternatives for Ferguson to pursue, none is given a ringing endorsement.
Villa is expected to join Madrid or Barcelona if he does leave Valencia, Huntelaar's reputation has suffered in Spain, Agüero is considered over-priced at £38.6million, Ibrahimovic 'has rarely fired against the physical presence of English sides', while the age of the 28-year-old Eto'o counts against him, as does his African Nations Cup obligation in January. And Owen?
'The prospect is an intriguing one,' muses The Independent. 'Ferguson tried to sign the 29-year-old as a youngster and there have been rumours that he has returned with inquiries since. The £40,000 a week Owen might be prepared to accept will certainly not hurt United and there are enough attacking options at Old Trafford to make the risk of injuries to which Owen has become prone less of a problem than at most other clubs.
'A possibility, perhaps, but the good money now has to be on Ferguson not seeking further front line reinforcements.'
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