Alex Ferguson will be hoping to pull of the shock of the summer – by nabbing ex-Liverpool and current Newcastle striker Michael Owen on a free.

Once considered one of the top strikers in the world, Owen had been attracting scant interest from the league, with only Stoke, Hull and Everton as possible transfer destinations. Manchester United’s interest will be a lifeline for Owen, as he tries to force his way back in to the England set up.

It is thought Owen will face a particularly stringent medical before finalising his move and that Manchester United will look to sign him on a ‘pay as you play’ deal.

But even so this signing represents a huge risk for Alex Ferguson.

Having lost Cristiano Ronaldo, he knows that he needs more options upfront. At his peak, Owen would have been the man to bring in to guarantee 25 goals a season.

Is he that man now?

And what does this move mean for Wayne Rooney? Will he be forced to stay outwide to accommodate the more central pair of Berbatov and Owen?

This is gamble by Ferguson, but do Manchester United fans think it is one worth taking?