MANCHESTER, England – Man, United boss Erik ten Hag is eager to find a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo whenever the summer transfer window opens next month.

Ten Hag has previously acknowledged that he did not want to lose the 37-year-old striker, but that it was impossible to keep him after his damaging interview with Piers Morgan.

United are lacking numbers up front as a result of Ronaldo’s departure, so Ten Hag will consider the best choices for the number nine.

He promised that “we will do everything in our power” to sign the ideal player.

Although they do not match exactly the formula, Ten Hag loves fellow Dutchman Cody Gakpo, 23, at PSV Eindhoven, and Benfica’s 21-year-old forward Goncalo Ramos, who netted a hat-trick after he substituted Ronaldo there in Portugal squad for their World Cup last-16 triumph against Switzerland.

“I cannot provide remarks on specific players,” continued the United head. “I’ll never do that; I respect the contracts that players have.

“We are just doing research on every possible chance, and we do everything in our power if that possibility is there to bind them.”

Attempting to persuade clubs to replace players in January has never been easy and United references had already felt most potential buyers have been biding their time until the full impact of European Championship performance this season is known.

The Old Salford outfit spent a different amount in the spring and autumn, bringing in Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, but even though Ronaldo’s rate of pay being removed from the wage bill following his departure from the club does mean a multi-million-pound saving over the remainder of the season.

But even so, Anthony Martial has quickly emerged as a significant player.

The France forward has flattered to deceive across the whole of his seven-year United career. The 27-year-old has made just two Premier League starts after a successful preseason was derailed by a hamstring injury. A loan move to Sevilla in the second half of last season did not result in a permanent transfer.

However, with Ronaldo out of the picture, Jadon Sancho on a fitness regimen after suffering an injury, and Marcus Rashford and Antony having been away for the World Cup, Martial is set to play a significant role when the domestic season returns on December 21 against Burnley in the EFL Cup.

“We have been seeing, when he is readily accessible, he has a substantial influence on our tournament,” said Ten Hag.

“He has much less than 300 minutes [this campaign] and seems to have four goals and has achieved. That’s an extremely impressive record.

“That the very first challenge for oneself is to be readily accessible and fit. He has to be willing to take responsibility for it, but we also need to assist him in all the ways researchers can.”

After an explosive interview with Piers Morgan last month, Ronaldo’s tenure at Manchester United came to an unfortunate conclusion. There is a gap up front at Old Trafford as a result of the mutual termination of his contract, and Ten Hag has promised to fill it—but with one stipulation. 

Ten Hag said when asked if he planned to sign a replacement player, “Yes, but only when we discover the proper guy. We do everything we can. We are researching every option. If that opportunity is available to contract them.

The Dutchman promised to bolster the front line but declined to be specific about any one player, saying: “People have contracts and I respect that, but make sure we are working in the background to get the proper players in. I cannot provide comments on specific players. I will never do that.”