Who's The Next number 7 in Manchester United Squad?

The successors to Cristiano Ronaldo's throne go under the microscope

Cristiano Ronaldo's exit to Real Madrid has robbed Manchester United of some midfield magic and left seven candidates for his legendary number seven shirt.

Current incumbent Michael Owen is sidelined by injury, while the advancing years of veteran Ryan Giggs has robbed Manchester United of a spell-binding winger.

Press reports have centred on Valencia striker David Villa filling the gap. The vacuum on the left wing is a bigger priority and the spot for the next Old Trafford superstar to emerge from.

While £17 million signing Antonio Valencia has blossomed on the right, a revolving door is spinning on the opposite flank. Nani, Park Ji-Sung and Giggs have all been used without any of them cementing their place.

For Giggs, age has taken away his turbo-boosted turn of speed, while Park has excelled in central midfield and Nani is a natural right-footer.

The 'Welsh wizard' is likely to bring down the curtain on his time at Old Trafford at the end of next season and can now be found in the middle of the pitch. At the top of United's transfer agenda for the summer is the acquisition of a natural left-footed winger happy to hug the touchline.

Goal.com UK studied the seven left-sided wide men in contention to don the mystical number seven jersey and counted them down by suitability...

7) - Joe Cole, 28, Chelsea

Strong favourite, but injury record could make him another Michael Owen

Why: "Despite being feted as a prodigy from a young age, since joining Chelsea he has always been willing to adapt his natural game. He's now a well-rounded player with a great eye for a defence-splitting pass. He's not naturally left-sided but has played very well there for England. He is good with both feet in close quarters, but his crossing is much stronger with the right foot and he prefers to cut inside rather than head for the byline."

Why not: "Unfortunately this season he has been derailed by a knee injury that kept him out for nine months of 2009. He has struggled for chances under Carlo Ancelotti and consequently his confidence is a little low. Fabio Capello has remarked that Cole "isn't the player I remember" this season, and he will need to put in a few sparkling performances to convince Chelsea (or another big club) he is worth a sizeable contract."

Estimated transfer value: "Out of contract at the end of the season, he'll be available for free if United are to sign him. With the birth of his first child last week, he will likely be looking for long-term security in the summer if he is to move away from London."

Likelihood rating: - Cole has starred in the Premier League for more than a decade, and with budgets tightening at Old Trafford, a move for him would please the money men.

6) - David Silva, 24, Valencia

Lightweight Spaniard has pedigree but is more comfortable in the middle

Why: "David Silva is a brilliant combination of a playmaker and a winger. This is thanks to his vision and ability to thread the most delicate of Xavi-esque passes, as well as his outstanding ball control, pace and trickery which allow him to hug the touchline. His versatility is also one of his key attributes as he can slot in effortlessly on either flank, in the 'hole', or as a second striker. He has an excellent left-foot, whether it's for shooting or crossing - although he prefers to keep things on the ground - and he's also comfortable on the ball with both feet."

Why not: "Silva isn't the biggest or strongest of players physically and he has a tendency to go down quite easily. The pace and direct approach of the English game could also be a problem, as he sometimes lingers on the ball to pick the perfect defence-splitting pass. Communication and language could also be a problem as the highlight of Silva's game is his almost telepathic understanding with his team-mates."

Estimated transfer value: "With a contract that runs until 2013, Silva is currently valued at around £27 million, a very reasonable figure for a versatile attacker who's only 24 years old."

Likelihood rating: - Has impressed Sir Alex Ferguson on international stage, and even though he isn't a natural winger, the manager views him as the answer.

5) - Balazs Dzsudzsak, 23, PSV Eindhoven

Lack of experience holds Hungarian back from the top of the list

Why: "Balazs Dzsudzsak is a great player. Because of his attributes, PSV are still in the race for the Eredivisie title. His biggest quality is his eye for goal. He has scored many times from long range and has a Beckham-like ability to hit free kicks. Dzsudzsak is very fast as well and makes many goals from the left wing. He can pass and shoot with his left and right feet."

Why not: "Problems have started for him after he threatened to leave PSV if the team doesn't qualify for the Champions League football next season. The PSV-fans like him, but he is a controversial player all over the country because of his arrogant attitude. He is a good player but he needs to become calmer. Dzsudzsak could be useful for United but I would advise their scouts to come back next summer when he is more experienced."

Estimated transfer value: "I would estimate Dzsudzsak would cost £12 million. He is still young and yet to prove himself on the international stage."

Likelihood rating: - United are looking for the finished article after experimenting with Nani, and the PSV man doesn't fit this bill.

4) - Franck Ribery, 26, Bayern Munich

Massive price-tag and roaming role hampers Frenchman's suitability

Why: "Ribery is a creative offensive midfielder who likes to play on the wings. In fact, he has the qualities of a traditional number 10, but doesn't play to his best in the centre. His favourite side is the left, although his right foot is his strongest. His skills with his left are good, but he isn't as two-footed as Robben. When he reaches the base line he loves to give sharp passes into the penalty area or even try to score himself."

Why not: "Especially after injury breaks, Ribery has failed to shine. This season he has been injured quite often and wasn't as important for Munich as he was during the last two seasons when he was outstanding. He also grew up in problematic circumstances, can be a diva and gives provocative interviews when he wants to force things."

Estimated transfer value: "Bayern rejected a £60 million bid from Real Madrid last summer but he is certainly worth less now. I would say £40 million."

Likelihood rating: - Huge price tag and loss of form could put Ferguson off making another approach for the former Marseille man.

3) - Arjen Robben, 26, Bayern Munich

Balsa wood made Dutchman no fit for Ferguson's squad

Why: "Robben is a sympathetic guy, no star attitude, not one for scandals or provocative interviews. He is a weapon for every team as a winger. I compare his playing style to Marc Overmars as he is naturally two-footed on the ball, plays in the national team on the left (his original side) and at Bayern on the right side. He has the individual class to decide matches by himself, but also is a team player."

Why not: "A factor against him is his injury record. In Spain they gave him the nickname "Glass Arjen." He compares himself to a Formula One car, if one little detail goes wrong when you're at high-speed, it has a big effect on the car. He is also very happy in Munich and has just welcomed the birth of his second child."

Estimated transfer value: "Robben's value has increased in Munich and I would say he is worth £25 million."

Likelihood rating: - Injury record, suspect temperament and spurning of Ferguson's advances in the past make this a non-starter.

2) - Juan Manuel Vargas, 26, Fiorentina

Emerging Peruvian requires more time to prove left wing credentials

Why: "Juan Manuel Vargas has matured into one of the most important players for his national and international sides. He has great pace, speed and aggression, but his best asset is his left foot. I believe in this moment he is one of the best left wingers in the world. His shots are always powerful and precise and he is dangerous from free kicks. In Italy, he's very famous also for his dangerous crosses that often create trouble for the opponents' defence."

Why not: "If Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to find a new Roberto Carlos, it's not Vargas. He could be a very offensive full-back but he's very poor when asked to defend. Vargas has also been a great surprise this year as he has moved from defence to attack and has only emerged as a great player this season."

Estimated transfer value: "Some weeks ago rumours about his contract renewal with Fiorentina talked about a release clause fee of £22 million. It's a realistic price for his ability and fact he is 26-years old."

Likelihood rating: - The Peruvian will not have landed on Ferguson's radar even after a stellar first campaign on the left wing.

1) - Angel Di Maria, 22, Benfica

Starring role against Everton proves Argentine international is worth a punt

Why: "Di Maria makes most of his moves with his left foot, is extremely gifted, and even when he cuts inside from the left wing he prefers using it rather than his right foot, which is not nearly as good as the left. His crossing and passing are both very good, but the best thing about him is his technique as he can easily move past defenders and create space in the area. When motivated, he is extremely good and an absolute nightmare for defenders. I don’t recall him ever picking up any serious injury, I would say only a few minor knocks that take a few days at most to recover from."

Why not: "Considering he is one of Benfica’s most attacking players, Di Maria is not great at scoring goals. He has only netted 12 goals in the three years he has been at the Estadio da Luz. When he is given the opportunity from close range he isn't ruthless enough. The worst thing about him is his composure and concentration. If he is not motivated, or if he does not start the game well, he feels such pressure to perform that he can’t deliver."

Estimated transfer value: "He currently has a contract until 2015, with a £35 million clause attached to it, but I would value the transfer at £22-27 million."

Likelihood rating: - Starting spot for Argentina and Europa League dismantling of Everton has Di Maria on Ferguson's shopping list.