1. Wayne Rooney
United 2004-2017; 183 Premier League goals for United; 253 in total
Rooney’s transfer to Everton this week has thrown plenty of critical light on his accomplishments during 13 years at Manchester United.
Really, his goal-scoring statistics speak for themselves – 253 in 559 games for United, more than any other player in their history. Of these, 183 came in the Premier League, considerably more than anyone else.
There’s then the fact those many, many goals heralded another stunning period of United success, including five league titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.
What’s more, Rooney’s goals did often have an X-factor about them. We had two-yard tap-ins and 30-yard top corner screamers and everything in between.
So on the stats, the success and the style, that’s why Rooney is United’s greatest striker of the Premier League era.
2. Eric Cantona
United 1992-1997; 64 Premier League goals for United; 82 total
Universally adored by United fans of all generations, Cantona was a break-the-mould character you wonder if we’ll ever see the likes of again.
Blessed with abundant confidence and swagger, the Frenchman seemed to create a lifetime of memories – good, bad and ugly – in just four full seasons at Old Trafford before his shock retirement aged 30.
Scorer of 64 Premier League goals and winner of four championship medals, Cantona was the icon the resurgent United of the 1990s needed.
3. Andrew Cole
United 1995-2001; 93 Premier League goals for United; 121 in total
A deadly United striker who played his part in two great teams – Ferguson’s Double-winners of 1995-96 and the side that won the Treble in 1999.
Signed in a shock move from rivals Newcastle United in 1995, Cole wasted little time in establishing himself as a reliable and prolific forward.
He achieved the pinnacle of his career after recovering from broken legs, scoring 24 goals in that unstoppable strike partnership with Yorke in 1998-99.
Finished his United career with five Premier League titles, two FA Cup wins and the 1999 Champions League.
4. Ruud van Nistelrooy
United 2001-2006; 95 Premier League goals for United; 150 in total
In terms of scoring goals at a ferocious rate, it would be difficult to compare with Van Nistelrooy between his arrival in 2001 and his departure for Real Madrid in 2006.
A predatory striker who was always in the right place and the right time to hoover up chances, the Dutchman’s goals rarely won awards but were often vitally important.
Unfortunately for him, and despite his best efforts, his time at Old Trafford was a lean period in terms of success and silverware. Van Nistelrooy only won one Premier League title during his stay.
5. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
United 1996-2007; 91 Premier League goals for United; 126 in total
Remembered for scoring one of the most famous goals in Manchester United history in the 1999 Champions League final, it’s often forgotten that Solskjaer was a complete unknown when Ferguson signed him in 1996.
The Norwegian, deadly from short range in front of goal, carved a niche as a ‘super sub’, coming off the bench to score a succession of important goals, especially during that Treble season.
He also out-lasted many contemporaries, spending 11 seasons at Old Trafford and winning six league medals, always in the knowledge that his place in the hearts of United fans was assured.
6. Dwight Yorke
United 1998-2002; 48 Premier League goals for United; 65 in total
The £12.6m signing of Yorke from Aston Villa was United’s response to blowing the Premier League title to Arsenal in 1998 and the ever-smiling Tobagonian was worth every penny.
Forming a lethal strike partnership with Cole, his first season at Old Trafford yielded 29 goals and the hitherto unscaled triple peaks of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League glory.
Yorke would have two more effective seasons for United, winning the title twice more, before giving way to Ruud van Nistelrooy.
7. Mark Hughes
United 1980-1986 and 1988-1995; 35 Premier League goals for United; 163 in total
The Welshman was a prolific scorer in both his spells with United, a time which spanned the transition from the old Division One into the Premier League in 1992.
Accordingly, he became United’s first great Premier League striker, scoring 15 and 12 goals respectively in the club’s first two title-winning seasons.
Hughes was also key in the flurry of cup successes in the early nineties that launched the Ferguson era of dominance.
8. Robin van Persie
United 2012-2015; 48 Premier League goals for United; 58 in total
If not for more fortuitous timing, Van Persie could have been a true Old Trafford legend.
He arrived from Arsenal in time for Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell season – and only after the manager assured him he’d stay longer – and scored 26 goals to deliver one last Premier League title.
Van Persie scored at a ferocious rate and was a true predator inside the penalty box, scoring a terrific variety of goals.
But it all unravelled after Ferguson’s departure, even though he scored 18 goals in the ill-fated David Moyes era. His old mate Louis van Gaal just didn’t want to know, and it was all a case of what might have been.
9. Dimitar Berbatov
United 2008-2012; 48 Premier League goals for United; 56 goals in total
The Bulgarian joined United at a high point, shortly after their Champions League triumph in 2008, and cost £30.75million from Tottenham, who drove a hard bargain and pushed negotiations into Deadline Day.
Berbatov played with a languid style but was capable of flashes of genius that made him an exciting player for the Old Trafford faithful to watch.
The highlight was almost certainly his hat-trick in a dramatic 3-2 league win over Liverpool in 2010, a performance capped with an overhead kick.
He scored the bulk of his goals in league matches and collected two titles during his four seasons with United, though the Champions League crown eluded him.
10. Teddy Sheringham
United 1997-2001; 31 Premier League goals for United; 46 goals in total
Signed from Tottenham in 1997 to replace the retiring Eric Cantona, it took Sheringham a little time to establish himself at Old Trafford as United were pipped to the Premier League title by Arsenal.
The England international also played second fiddle to Andrew Cole and Dwight Yorke for much of the Treble season, but at the age of 33 he finally won his first pieces of silverware in stunning fashion.
His equalising goal against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final earned Sheringham cult status and he would add two more league winners medals in the following two seasons, showing a consistent scoring touch despite his advancing years.