Fergie must not panic buy as signs of desperation set in at Old Trafford...

With big name signings looking unlikely following reports that Ribery is too old ("Glazers' won't sanction moves for anyone over 27", Guardian) and quite probably too expensive, David Villa only wants to move Real Madrid and Benzema isn't interested in playing in England, the United manager is going to have to make some big decisions soon.

In truth, the manager doesn't appear to have a lot of options where established top quality goal-scoring targets’ are concerned, but make no mistake this is an area that will give United fans something to worry about next season if worst case the club fails to find a goal-scorer.

The very latest news suggests that Fergie could be trying to tempt Robin Van Persie with a move to Old Trafford, if there's any grain of truth behind this latest speculation then it has all the hallmarks of a club who are becoming increasingly desperate in their attempts to fill the gaping chasm in United's forward-line following Ronaldo's expected move to Real Madrid.

It is very doubtful that Wenger would sell to Fergie, but as we have seen recently the Gunners' have been unable to retain some of their players', mainly due to excessive wage demands.

Technically, Van Persie is very good indeed, but again it comes back to the question of selling to one of your biggest domestic rivals - the words "over my dead body" will likely be heard in the corridor outside Wenger's office.

The other day United were somewhat embarrassingly linked to Liverpool's Fernando Torres, we will never know if there's any substance behind these rumours, they are more than likely the figment of an equally desperate news generating media.

One thing is certain, the transfer clock waits for no manager and with Fergie set to return from holiday and looking no closer to filling the Ronaldo void, fans will be wondering what will happen next.

Some supporters have been asking why on earth did United make public their decision to sell Ronaldo, the answer to that question is simple, because with each passing day since the announcement, it is becoming clear that the club may well have taken the view that the player was going to be sold this summer come what may - nothing was going to get in the way of this transfer, not even failure to sign a top quality replacement. If Fergie had such a player and a plan in place then why hasn't it happened?

It looks like the club were resigned to losing Ronaldo and we can all understand that, but the fans will be more concerned at United's failure to put a contingency plan in place, at least it is looking that way at present.

We also have to accept that there's not many players available who are capable of scoring twenty goals a season, so it is going to be a very difficult task, which again might well explain why the club made the Ronaldo announcement without addressing the replacement issue first.

Fergie could soon be facing up to the very real possibility that he might well have to utilise Macheda and Welbeck next season as part of his first-choice top four strikers, my own view is the Italian could cut it, but I have my doubts about Welbeck. Tevez will more than likely join rivals Manchester City and if that happens, it will be very hard to take, and worse still it will give Fergie an even bigger headache.

Above all else and despite the growing desperation, now is not the time to panic buy. United need to find someone who will compliment the manager's attacking options, the champions have arguably one of the world's best second-strikers' in Rooney, but what they don't really have apart from the developing Macheda, is a tall strong pacey striker with two good feet.