Manchester United Transfer Rumours: 6 Attacking Talents Linked to the Red Devils

Manchester United haven't bought a striker of note since Javier Hernandez arrived in July 2010. Could this summer see Sir Alex Ferguson dip into the market for one?

Ferguson currently has Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck as his first-choice pair, with Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov as backup.

There's also Michael Owen to return from injury.

Hernandez seems likely to stick around, but if Owen or Berbatov decide to leave for more first-team football in the summer, United could well be tempted into the market.

Also taking into account attack-minded midfielders, here are six exciting talents recently linked to Old Trafford.

Andre-Pierre Gignac

Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac says he turned down a move to Everton in the January window, but could be tempted by a club like United in the summer.

“Everton is a top club in England but for me Marseille is bigger and more attractive,” said Gignac.

“I want to play one day abroad but at a bigger club like the Manchester Uniteds of this world. I do want to make a name for myself at Marseille. I love the club.”

The 25-year-old Gignac hasn't exactly set the world on fire since joining Marseille at the start of the 2010-11 season from Toulouse. The French international has scored 12 times in 46 appearances so far.

Stefan Jovetic

Fiorentina striker Stefan Jovetic is apparently being courted by United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

This report says all three sent scouts to watch him in Serie A, though a buyout clause of £40 million could prove problematic in any deal for the 22-year-old Montenegro international.

Here's what the man himself had to say recently:

“I am content in Italy but I’m always looking out to improve myself. I have been looking out for a chance to play in the Premier League and I am prepared for that challenge."

Nicolas Gaitan

United and Manchester City are both reported to be monitoring Benfica's highly rated midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.

Gaitan apparently has a £37.5 million release clause in his contract. This is what his agent Jose Irribaran told Metro.co.uk recently when questioned about a possible move to the Premier League, saying:

"Gaitan's goal is to play well for Benfica and be a champion at the club, where he is very happy.

"I do not know if there is interest, but I think that any team in the world would like to have Gaitan."

Jordan Rhodes

United are among a host of clubs said to be watching Huddersfield goal machine Jordan Rhodes.

The 22-year-old has been in prolific form this season and will surely make a move away in the summer.

Wolves were the most recent club thrown into the mix, though with their Premier League survival in the balance, that one seems unlikely.

A Scotland international, Rhodes has scored 26 goals in 24 League One appearances this season.

Luka Modric

The Daily Mail say Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric is United's No. 1 target this summer.

Modric is apparently seen as the ideal successor to Paul Scholes, but whether Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is prepared to sell is another matter.

Levy turned down a £40 million bid from Chelsea last summer, and the suggestion here is that United would need to up that to £50 million to secure the services of the Croatian maestro.

Ricky Van Wolfswinkel

Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel has been consistently linked with a move to the Premier League, with United and Liverpool mentioned in this story.

There was talk United would bid for the 23-year-old in January, but that didn't happen. Neither did a move to Lazio.

Expect the name van Wolfswinkel to reappear in the coming months, especially if he continues to perform well for Sporting in Portugal.