(Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

With Cristiano Ronaldo almost gone and Carlos Tevez not returning for a third season at Old Trafford, it seems a safe football bet that Sir Alex Ferguson must now make his move for Karim Benzema.

Ronaldo’s £80 million move to Real Madrid will be sorted out by the end of the month, as long as the parties can come to an agreement over the Portuguese star’s image rights, and Tevez has now revealed he will be moving on after United refused to make him the club’s biggest earner.

It leaves Manchester United with a huge void to fill when you consider the pair blasted 41 goals between them last season and an amazing 61 goals the previous campaign.

Expect Fergie to employ Wayne Rooney down the middle next season, but the United chief will surely have something up his sleeve to replace the dynamic duo, and French international Benzema can go some way to replacing the missing goals in United’s squad.

The 21-year-old announced himself on the big stage in 2007-08 when he fired 33 goals as Lyon triumphed in Ligue 1, and he followed that up this term with 24 goals as they finished in third spot.

The France international is contracted to Lyon until 2013, but an offer in excess of £25 million will be too good for the French outfit to refuse.

"He is with us, but nobody knows what will happen," said OL sporting director Bernard Lacombe.

"We didn't think Michael Essien would leave at the time, but when Chelsea arrived with the cheque...

"If United, who as we know have plenty of cash available, came and said we want to buy Benzema, what can you do? Not much."

Benzema looks to have all the attributes of a future United player with pace, terrific movement, and finishing ability, and with World Cup 2010 just around the corner, the player might decide to test himself in the Premier League.

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