Sir ready for his biggest summer transfer splurge ever

• zocoss

  22 Jun 09, 21:57

  Manchester United In Talks With Douglas Costa - Agent

  Douglas Costa's representative says the Red Devils are speaking to the Tricolor about a proposed transfer...

  

   

  The agent of Douglas Costa has claimed that Premier League giants Manchester United have begun talks with Gremio to purchase the youngster, according to a report emanating from Setanta.
  
  The Red Devils are said to have been tracking the 18-year-old for the past couple of years and may now be ready to pounce following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.
  
  The 11-time capped Brazil Under-20 international has been dubbed 'the new Ronaldinho' and Barcelona, as well as Los Blancos, have also been linked with him.
  
  However, quotes attributed to the midfielder's representative Cesar Bottega suggest United are leading the pursuit of the £20 million-rated starlet.
  
  With Douglas thought to have recently signed a four-year contract which will keep him at the Olimpico Monumental until 2013, it appears the English champions may swoop for his services soon before his value rises further.
  
  "There have been informal conversations and I believe Manchester United would match those values," Bottega told the Brazilian press.
  
  "At the end of the Brasileirao, Douglas will be worth at least twice that."

• zocoss

  22 Jun 09, 23:13

  Sir Alex Ferguson set to bid £30m for French star Karim Benzema.

  

  SIR Alex Ferguson is ready to rebuild his shattered strike force with a £30million bid for French star Karim Benzema.

   

   

  The Manchester United boss returns from holiday this week and will try to patch up his depleted squad with his biggest summer transfer splurge ever. Fergie wants to do a Benzema deal quickly after losing Carlos Tevez at the weekend when the Argentine rejected a new five-year contract. He also has to do the impossible and replace World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

  Benzema is United’s prime target and despite publicly resisting a transfer, Lyon are already making moves to replace their 21-year-old striker.

  Lyon have made a £10m bid for Paris saint-Germain striker Guillaume Hoarau in readiness for a mega-money deal with United

  Hoarau has scored 17 goals in 32 league matches last season, earning a France call-up and is a natural replacement for Benzema.

  Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan have looked at Benzema but United, with the cash from the Ronaldo deal, head the queue and progress is expected this week.

  Lyon sporting director Bernard Lacombe has hinted that Benzema can go if a huge offer was made.

  He said: “Nobody knows what is going to happen. What should we do if Manchester, who have a lot of cash to spend, want to sign Benzema?” Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas also paved the way for a move. He said: “We didn’t think Michael Essien would leave at the time, but when Chelsea arrived with the cheque...”

• zocoss

  22 Jun 09, 23:15

  Whelan hails 'world-class' winger

  Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan believes Manchester United will be getting an 'absolute steal' if they sign Antonio Valencia.

  Valencia: Would be worshipped by United fans

   

   

  United are hoping to land Ecuador international Valencia following the decision to accept a world-record £80million offer from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

  Whelan plans to meet with United and Real, who are also keen on Valencia, in the coming days, while an unnamed third club have also shown an interest.

  Reports claim United are favourites to nab Valencia, although the reported £18million asking price is rumoured to be proving a sticking point.

  However Whelan is confident that, for the sums being discussed, the Premier League champions will be securing a bargain if they conclude a deal for Valencia.

  "I think Antonio is the best wide right player anywhere and that includes Franck Ribery," Whelan told The People. "If this lad goes to Man United he will be a sensation there.

  "Within a few months and over the course of a season the United supporters would come to worship this lad.

  "We see him week-in, week-out in games and in training and he's a world-class player. "He doesn't play the same way as Ronaldo. There is no show or flash, but he's a world-class player and he'll take some replacing. No-one tackles him or takes the ball off him because they can't get near him.

  "At the kind of money that's been talked about for Antonio he'd be an absolute steal. United appear to be getting £80m for Ronaldo and they would be paying out a fraction of that for Valencia, so it would be great business because this boy has got immense ability."

   

• Chris88110

  22 Jun 09, 23:29

  He's over-rated
• zocoss

  23 Jun 09, 11:22

  I don't think so... I find him a much better winger than Aaron Lennon... And if he gets to play around better players, I believe he will do even better...

  At Wigan, he was rated the best of the 3, Palacios and Heskey... $17, $18m is ok, as he is still very young but have enough premier league experienced already...

• iceFatboy

  23 Jun 09, 11:38

  hurry up la, given MU is a PLC, super slow leh..

   

• marcteng

  23 Jun 09, 13:26

  i hope fergie buy robben, ashley young, benzema, ribery and the brazilian costa. that would be an awesome lineup for next season :)
• marcteng

  23 Jun 09, 13:32

  should fergie go and buy Ronaldino? he is still an awesome player.
• deathwish

  23 Jun 09, 18:33

  I was thinking he should have gotten Sneijder from RM... That guy is a pretty good winger too.. Then Benzema, Costa and possibily Ribery and a left back as cover for Evra... O'Shea abit too "versatile"

• iceFatboy

  24 Jun 09, 11:58

  well, the count is still ZERO..

• nOrmalbOi

  24 Jun 09, 12:44

  Originally posted by iceFatboy:

  hurry up la, given MU is a PLC, super slow leh..

   

  I guess they are just waiting for confirmation that CR has signed for RM. Think they are just afraid of them going ahead and signing a replacement then have CR decide that RM's terms are not good enuff or RM pull out of deal.