Despite Marcus Rashford scoring 27 goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season, the Old Trafford club are still looking for a player to replace Cristiano Ronaldo as their true no.9.

The Portuguese forward’s acrimonious departure from the club last year has certainly helped them on the field, though Erik ten Hag has yet to find someone who can lead the line as well as Ronaldo.

The 38-year-old scored 27 goals in all competitions during his second stint in Manchester, and aside from Rashford, no other United player has more than ten goals this season, demonstrating that the Dutchman urgently needs a centre-forward who can score 20-plus goals a season to take the side to the next level.

Ten Hag could save millions in the transfer market by releasing Manni Norkett, a youngster who has been on a scoring streak recently.

Who is Manni Norkett?
The 18-year-old has the potential to be the next big thing at Old Trafford, especially with his goal-scoring form, and his former youth coach Garry Attwood even claimed he could be the “real deal” as he looks to break into the first team setup.

The teen prodigy rose to prominence last season, scoring nine goals in 22 U18 Premier League matches, and he has nearly matched that total this season in ten fewer games, grabbing eight goals in just 12 games, indicating his confidence is growing.

Norkett hasn’t had much experience at the higher age group yet, having only played a handful of games for the U21 side, but his track record in the academy suggests he’s one for the future.

Journalist Shaun Connolly praised the striker earlier this year, claiming he was one of the “notable names on the cusp of [the] first team” alongside the likes of Isak Hansen-Aaren, Marc Jurado, and Joe Hugill, and United could be set for another wonderful era filled with youth talent.

Erik-ten-Hag-Marcus-Rashford-Man-United
The teen sensation still has a lot to learn, and while his goal-scoring exploits for the U18s have earned him a lot of praise, with Tom Shaw, manager at Gainsborough Town, for whom Norkett played on loan last season, calling him a “real prospect,” the real challenge will begin now as he looks to make regular appearances for the U21s.

Ten Hag will undoubtedly give him an opportunity or two in the near future to showcase his talents in front of the Old Trafford crowd if he can make the transition to the older group well and continue his rich vein of scoring.