Man Utd add Morata to shortlist to replace Ronaldo

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 30 Dec 2022 08:42 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United are casting their net far and wide as they look to find a replacement for disgraced No.9 Cristiano Ronaldo…

Ronaldo had in effect been replaced by Marcus Rashford already this season, the England man starting up front more often than not and scoring nine goals in all competitions as Ronaldo watch on.

The Portuguese's fate was sealed when he gave Piers Morgan an explosive interview on the eve of the World Cup, slating United's Glazer family ownership and manager Erik ten Hag, and he was subsequently released.

READ: From Man City bid to Messi: Ronaldo-Piers Morgan interview IN FULL

While Rashford has impressed, he prefers lining up on the left and the Red Devils remain in the market for an out-and-out striker, with solutions from Ivan Toney to Lautaro Martinez floated in recent months.

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But it now appears a solution or two could come from the Estadio Metropolitano.

Joao Felix and Alvaro Morata targets for Man Utd?

"Joao Felix is available to leave Atletico Madrid but the Spanish club would want a significant loan fee plus an agreement to cover his wages that could take the total package to close to €22m for six months," report ESPN

READ: Morata: Barcelona made me three offers in January

"United have all but ruled out renewing their interest in Bologna's Marko Arnautovic after looking at the former Stoke and West Ham striker in the summer, but Alvaro Morata remains an option if Atletico are willing to listen to loan offers."

Morata has impressed on his return to Atletico this season, scoring five La Liga goals from 14 games, 12 of them starts. But his previous two-year loan spell at Juventus gives United cause to belief they could acquire him on similar terms.

Atleti could also push for a permanent transfer. They have run into financial difficulty whilst spending €20m to bring Antoine Griezmann back from Barcelona on a permanent basis, and could settle for less than the €28.7m Morata is rated at by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm.