It has recently emerged in every respectable newspaper - and indeed those that are not respected -  that Mark Viduka may soon find himself plying his aging trade at Old Trafford. If this is really true, I would have to ask whether Sir Alex Ferguson has lost his marbles.

Viduka is an enigma; part-time lethal finisher, part basket case. The Australian, whose personal psychiatrist accompanies him everywhere, is without doubt a flawed genius - and in my opinion a player United can do without.

Now 31, the boy from Melbourne is without doubt one of the more prolific strikers in the Premiership  - and has been since he joined Leeds United in 2000. Some 85 Premiership goals in seven seasons prove he has quality; however he doesn't seem to fit the bill in terms of the calibre of player Sir Alex is usually attracted to.

'Viduka is an enigma; part-time lethal finisher, part basket case'

Granted, Fergie has tamed a great many 'loose cannons' - Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and more recently Alan Smith to name just three. However, Viduka is not in the same league as two of those greats and is far older than Smith. Indeed, he is in the twilight of his career and could do more harm than good at the Theatre of Dreams.

Striking options are admittedly short, especially when Louis Saha is injured and with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reverting to his super-sub role. But what United need now is another young jewel that they can shape and bring on to become a potential great.

Giuseppe Rossi seems to fit the bill; he has come on leaps and bounds since his loan move to Parma, where his nine goals in 17 games have steered the club from relegation. However, Rossi may be on his way to a permanent move to Italy, with AC Milan looking to prize him away from United. Then there's Chinese striker Dong Fangzhuo, who didn't look out of place when he took on Chelsea's first team this month - but doesn't look like he will set the Premiership alight.