I think it is safe to assume that Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez will be at the club next season, not only because of their performance levels but also because of their age. However, as strange as it may seem with Berbatov being the leagues top scorer, at the age of 30 and seemingly no longer a definite in the starting 11, maybe Ferguson will cash in on the Bulgarian. Had it been Rooney who lost his first team place, being 25 there is a huge amount of time and a massive chance he will force his way back in – with Berbatov it just does not seem likely. Would he be happy to sit on the bench?
Michael Owen is at the end of his current deal at United and maybe after two years at the club and not making a first team place his own, he might look elsewhere to get regular first team football. I think his situation is dependent on which loan striker returns; If Danny Welbeck or Kiko Macheda return, I believe they will be further up the pecking order than the former Liverpool man, and any self respecting footballer would not be happy to be fifth or sixth choice, especially one who was once European Player of the Year.
Looking at it from another angle is asking the question, will Danny Welbeck, Kiko Macheda or Mame Diouf be happy to return to the club knowing a minimum of two strikers will be ahead of them in Fergusons preference? Do any of these young strikers have it in them to fight for a place? Further more, will Javier Hernandez keep up his fine form or will his game be found out by defenders, going into his second season?
Ultimately the decision is down to Sir Alex Ferguson and he has never been a man to let sentiment get in the way of making bold decisions when it comes to showing world class strikers the door; Just ask Mark Hughes, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Dwight Yorke, Andrew Cole, Louie Saha and Diego Forlan. All household names, all completely different scenarios, all adored by the United faithful, all departed from United when the manager felt it was the right time.
Having seven top class strikers is every managers dream, not knowing which ones to keep is our managers nightmare.
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Roony and Hernandez obviously will not go anywhere, Berba will stay for another Season as the 3rd choice. Owen will be released, Welbeck will stay and Macheda will probly be sent out on loan. So United will be left with 4 really good, and different options up front and Macheda getting more valuable experience at a high level.
I think Kiko will be sold to an italian team,Owen will be released. Welbeck will return, his versatility in being able to play in a 4-4-2 & 4-3-3 is a key for offering a differant dimension to the team. If an offer for Berbatov comes in at or around the £20m mark it should be accepted and the moey spent on the rest of the team. Diouf looks a good prospect, he offers a strength to the forward line. We musnt also forget about Bebe, hopefully with a good pre season behind him he can finally show what he can do and prove all the doubters wrong.