❓ Cody Gakpo❓ Joao Felix❓ Goncalo Ramos❓ Kylian MbappeMan United candidates to replace Cristiano Ronaldo revealed #MUFC

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Cody Gakpo, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos, Kylian Mbappe… Erik ten Hag reveals Manchester United want to replace Cristiano Ronaldo in January – and here are the candidates

Erik ten Hag is adamant it’s time for Manchester United to move on from Cristiano Ronaldo, and it appears they already have.

The Dutchman gave a brief statement after the superstar forward had his contract terminated, ending a torrid relationship between the manager and player.

And now, without the distraction of Ronaldo overshadowing his new era at Old Trafford, Ten Hag’s rebuild is able to continue, with the January transfer window full of opportunities.

Speaking with his team in Spain for training before the resumption of the Premier League season, the former Ajax boss told fans exactly what they wanted to hear.

When asked about signing a striker in the winter window, he said: “Yes but only when we find the right player.

“We do everything in our power. We are doing research on every opportunity and we do everything we can if that opportunity is there to sign them.”

Ten Hag has already had varied successes with his transfer dealings, despite an opening window that saw fans outraged with links to the likes of Adrien Rabiot and Marko Arnautovic.

Eventually, though, the team ended up with Brazil internationals Casemiro and Antony, along with fellow World Cup stars Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen.

Supporters will be hoping for similarly high-profile names to come in January and replace Ronaldo, and here are the candidates.

Cody Gakpo

If things had gone slightly differently during the summer, Netherlands striker Gakpo could already be at Old Trafford, but now things are complicated.

The PSV Eindhoven winger starred as a striker for the Dutch in their run to the quarter-finals, likely boosting his price tag with three goals.

Reports claim United are continuing discussions with the player’s representatives, with him keen on a move to England.

The fee of around £55million could be an issue, though, despite the player’s youth and versatility matching the Ten Hag blueprint.

Joao Felix

Felix would almost certainly destroy Ten Hag’s idea of not overspending, but the Portugal and Atletico Madrid forward may end up being too good to miss out on.

Atleti’s CEO has confirmed Felix and Diego Simeone’s ill-fated relationship may be at an end, with the club now open to offers.

The Spanish side paid £106m to sign Felix from Benfica in 2019, so even ‘cutting their losses’ may be extremely pricey.

Reports claim United were interested in the summer, but spending £80m on Antony has likely complicated things.

Goncalo Ramos

Benfica striker Ramos replaced Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal, and there’s a chance he could do the same at Manchester United.

The Telegraph claims the English giants were already tracking the 21-year-old striker before the World Cup and his hat-trick against Switzerland, but like Gakpo, his Qatar displays won’t have helped the chances of a cost-effective January move.

But when it comes to price, things may well increase in the summer anyway, with Ramos’ form for Benfica now under even more scrutiny, helping the Lisbon side top the league and progress in Europe.

Kylian Mbappe

Ten Hag is keen for United not to overspend in January, but things may well be different in the summer.

If there’s any player in football worth pushing the boat out for, it’s Kylian Mbappe, which could be the perfect repost to Manchester City’s incredible deal for Erling Haaland.

Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain situation continues to rumble on, with it now widely reported that his three-year contract extension was in fact two years, with the option of a further season.

That means Mbappe would enter the final year of his contract in the summer, opening the window for potential suitors, with reports claiming United are one of those sides.

Despite a volatile ownership situation, United’s size and financial might makes them one of the only clubs in Europe able to afford Mbappe and his monstrous wages.

While it would undoubtedly be a more difficult and far more expensive deal than the other names on this list, the rewards could be substantial.