Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has hinted that the Red Devils need to bring in a new number nine to play in tandem with Marcus Rashford for next season.
Despite the acrimonious circumstances of Cristiano Ronaldo's exit over the winter, Erik ten Hag's men have witnessed Rashford rediscover his golden touch during a phenomenal season.
The 25-year-old has amassed 27 goals and nine assists from 44 appearances, only 12 months after his future was being called into question amid a downturn in fortunes.
Rashford has predominantly played off the left this term, but he has also demonstrated his goalscoring capabilities in the centre-forward role, where Wout Weghorst is also battling for starts.
Following Ronaldo's departure, Man United are being tipped to splash the cash on an expensive number nine during the summer, in spite of Rashford's red-hot streak in the final third.
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While the England international is firing on all cylinders at the moment, Sheringham does not view Rashford as an out and out number nine, but he claims that Ten Hag must find a way to fit the forward into the team no matter what transpires during the summer window.
Speaking to Sports Mole at the London Football Awards, the 56-year-old said: "Marcus Rashford knows where the net is, he can score a goal but he's not a number nine the way I see it.
"I don't really know where I would play Marcus Rashford, he's not a nine, not a 10, not a seven and not an 11, he's a forward player that can score goals, but you have to fit him in somewhere in the team.
"I'm not undermining him, I'm just saying I wouldn't know where his best position is, I would have to have a proper chat with him and find out where he wanted to play, but he's obviously a formidable force and he's firing on all cylinders at the moment, so he's one to be watched."
Sheringham posted 46 goals and 29 assists from 153 matches for Man United in the number nine role, spending four years at the club and winning the Red Devils' iconic treble in 1999.
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Meanwhile, Rashford now boasts a total of 120 goals and 66 assists in 347 outings for Ten Hag's side, who are working to tie the 25-year-old down to a new long-term deal beyond the summer of 2024.
While there remains uncertainty over whether Weghorst's loan move from Burnley will be made permanent this summer, Man United are being linked with a host of big-name strikers for a big-money transfer.
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Napoli's Victor Osimhen are believed to be two of the club's priority targets, although it would supposedly take £150m to prise the latter away from Napoli.
Furthermore, Spurs are not believed to be entertaining the idea of selling Kane, even though the England captain can walk away on a free transfer in 2024 as things stand.
Man United have already won the EFL Cup this season, and they are preparing to tackle Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals and Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Ten Hag's crop occupy third place in the Premier League table and will travel to meet fifth-placed Newcastle United in their first game back following the international break on April 2.
Ben Knapton
