Radamel Falcao permanently following his Old Trafford loan spell last season, while Robin van Persie left to join
Fenerbahce last week.
Falcao has joined Chelsea on a similar season-long loan deal and United now are left with relatively unproven
youngster James Wilson, and Javier Hernandez – who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid – as striking
alternatives to Rooney if the United skipper is unavailable.
New signing Memphis Depay, who joined from PSV after finishing top scorer in the Dutch Eredvisie last season, could
also be used as a lone striker if Louis van Gaal’s side line-up in a 4-3-3 formation next term.
Rooney scored 12 Premier League goals last season and has failed to score more than 20 in the league since the
2011/12 season when he scored 27 and finished behind just Arsenal's Van Persie in the Premier League top scorer
stakes.
The England captain was deployed by Van Gaal in central midfield and in a number 10 role on several occasions last
season and has also played in wide roles over the past few seasons but after being named as United captain last
season he is now expected to be handed a senior striking role.
Van Gaal is thought to be relaxed about the striker situation and is expected to give Javier Hernandez a chance to
get his Old Trafford career back on track if another centre forward is not signed.
United have already spent £80m this summer bringing in Depay, midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan
Schneiderlin, and full-back Matteo Darmian from Torino.
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