Transfers update: Ribery / Hargreaves / Owen / Nani
With the season over for Manchester United, fans can now look forward to new signings and the possibility of a major coup.
Unfortunately, it’s too soon to talk about big signings, so this week (like last time), we’ll talk about rumours that most likely won’t happen (and one that just doesn’t end).
1. The biggest news coming out of the weekend was not that Bayern and Manchester United had agreed to a 17m deal (we’ve heard enough of those to last us a while), but that Marseille had qualified for the Champions League.
Good for Marseille, I say, but not so good for Manchester United. Marseille’s asking price for Ribery is now expected to hit 20m at least, and they know that Madrid and Bayern, amongst others, want their player. Like Lyon with Essien and Diarra, Marseille are not going to back down easily, which makes it that much harder for Manchester United to bring the player in.
In effect, we could just have been priced out of a deal for Ribery (unless we’re already talking to the club).
2. Like I said above, Bayern and Manchester United have apparently signed a 17m deal for Owen Hargreaves. The timing’s right, but it’s again a case of wanting it to happen so badly that you can’t trust your gut instincts. I’ll believe it when I hear something from United / Owen, although if it is happening the next we’ll hear about it is when Owen gets here for the medical and all that.
3. The speculation on Michael Owen leaving Newcastle is so great that many Geordies have turned against their own player (see comments in this article). I don’t think Owen’s going anywhere until he has one full injury-free season at Newcastle, but quite honestly if he’s available for 9m I’d love to have him at United.
He’s not coming though - and it’s a possibility that if he was to go, he might just be waiting for Liverpool to come calling.
4. Nani’s reportedly signed a new deal, but considering that there are zero sources here and all the news we’ve heard is a copy-pasted version of a translated Spanish story (IMO), there’s little to it. From what I know (admittedly not too much), Manchester United are still talking to Sporting and one way or the other we’ll know more in the next month or so.
That’s it for today folks - remember to head over to the man utd blog for more news.
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Well thanks for the update. Can’t see us paying 20 mil for Ribery seen as we have more pressing positions to fill(gutted). On the brighter side, i hope the Hargreaves rumours are true this time. 17 mil isn’t that bad (don’t get me wrong i think BM are taking the p*ss) but considering there were whisperings of 20+ mil i’m not that concerned. He is the man we’ve wanted after all so it would just be a relief to get it all done and dusted.
Bayern have said that Owen will leave - it’s a question of when, and I assume it should be done before the end of the month.
It’s no more than a gut feeling, but I think that Ribery is going nowhere for now. Apart from OM qualifying for the CL, and his rising price, don’t underestimate the geographical factor. I’m 1000% that Ribery prefers the Mediterranian sun over the English rain. That’s the reason why Reyes left England, why Baptista will leave, and why Simao or Torres will NEVER come. So, Ribery will stay for another season, and then he’ll go to Spain. As i said,it’s a gut feeling…
Apparently Huntelaar’s being watched today. A cool £12 million for his services if he impresses.
still thinking what part of ribery that worth 20 mil…
i love french team, i support them all the way, franck ribery; admire your ball-controll so much but i still dont see u fit in the squad. for arsenal, maybe.
klas-jan huntelaar, cant have more welcome….great finisher, seems like always on the right place at the right time.
torres? after saw atletico was eaten 6 times alive last night, i dont know whether he still dont want to change team. but it’s a good thing for him, such a loyal kid.
Wow! Hargraeves has a decent world cup and I say decent, nothing spectacular and it was blown out of preportion because he played alongside underperforming superstars. Suddenly he is the answer to every midfield question ever asked? Rediculous if you ask me. I hope United waste their money on him!
well we all know hargreaves is definately going to be a utd player it’s a matter of when not if. SAF has already said utd are trying to get neville fit for da start of next season, bale has signed for spurs, so i dont think we’re going to go after micah richards, keeping SAF’s comment in mind.
Eto’o has come out and said he is not interested in leaivng barca’ and that he wants to stay with barca’ next season. atletico madrid lost 0-6 to barca’ @ the weekend, i think this humiliating defeat was the final straw for torres, he’ll most probably leave atletico now. this could be our best chance to get him and i know SAF is a big big fan of his. Utd probably have the best chance of signing him because the A.M board have praised utd on their faith and commitment on signing torres. Man i know u guys are just as excited as me at the thought of El Nino playing at OT. also he has told his closest friends that he has a desire to play for utd some day.
Nani has signed an extension to his contract, which means his transfer clause has gone up to a cool £20 Mill. This raises the question whether utd would spend that much on him, although he is very, very young and could produce the same magic as ronaldo in a couple of season’s when he has truly peaked. it would be best to get him now before his price tag increases.
possible transfers or not :
no full backs, i doubt we will strenthen the defence
Hargreaves is a formality
Torres, definately going to leave A.M this year, this is a big reality now.
Eto’o , aint going to happen, unrealistic rumours from the start.
Nani, definatly could happen, it’s all a rests on whether utd are willing to shell out 20 mill, because 20 mill is double the value to a club like sporting compared to other clubs.
Ricardo Quaresma, this guy is class pure, PURE, class, dont be surprised to see him next season at a big , big club, also we all know how much SAF loves to have brilliant versatile wingers in his sides, this man is the answer.
Jan Klass Huntelaar, just what utd need someone who is a prolific finisher, in the air and on the ground, especially on the ground, he is the type of striker we are looking for, someone who will put away the countless chances that our midfield creates.
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OOOH Ribery, the number one hero on football field. He run as marchin and look like the horse. If Alex decide to sign with this player may be Manu team is stronger then before. Because, have alot of young player with high abiliy and full of technical.
Sorry, Krsna, but I must say you sound like a typical dumbass. Every single summer it’s the same thing with Torres, he’s always leaving Atletico, but he always happens to stay, and finds a way to extend his contract. And surely you’re not that dumb to think he’s going to leave the club where he plays his whole life because they lost a game, be it 6-0. There are no final straws here, he would have left a long time ago had he wanted to. I already said it on another thread and I’ll say it again: you all seem to think that every player in Spain is ready to swim to England, and, well, it’s just dumb. I also want him to come to OT, don’t get me wrong, but I’m realistic and simply cannot rely on stuff like “he told his friends”. So what, he also has “you’ll never walk alone” written on the inside of his captain’s armband. Big deal. He also (still) wears an Atletico shirt, and that’s the best proof of them all. And Quaresma?!? You don’t really think that such a pussy player would survive a day in the EPL? One diving girly boy from Portugal is enough, thank you. Nani is much different, he’s fast and direct and can be thought the English way, and he’s a realistic target unlike Quaresma. Everyone knows that.