The news today from the Daily Mail is that the Man Utd manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has decided that Carlton Cole is the man he needs to partner Wayne Rooney in the United attack.

Liverpool have been linked with the vastly-improved West Ham striker steadily this week, and the latest reports said that West Ham have slapped a £20m price tag on the England striker to try and deter Rafael Benitez’s interest.

But a price like that would be no problem for Fergie, who has yet to spend hardly any of the £80m United got from Real Madrid for Ronaldo during the summer, and he desperately needs another top-class striker if United are to keep up with Chelsea at the top of the Premiership.

Rafael Benitez is also keen to bring in a proven Premiership striker to take some pressure off Fernando Torres, and it would be a great blow if United stepped in and outbid him in his quest for Cole.

Carlton Cole could be the right solution for either team.