Now that the dust has settled on Madridgate the speculation has begun as to how Manchester United will improve their team moving forward. There are still rumours about the future of Wayne Rooney and any summer transfer fund would of course hinge on his movements.
soccersweep still thinks that Manchester United would be off their chops to get rid of the scouser, however stocky. We are prepared to accept that he may leave but we are assuming he won’t.
However, despite continued, long term calls for Fergie to buy a top class midfielder, all of today’s transfer speculation involves forwards. Sure, there is room for improvement in the engine room, but the most alarming element of United’s season hitherto has been the dearth of ruthless wing play that United fans have become accustomed to. Antonio Valencia has run out of jet fuel. His confidence has inexplicably disappeared and he would struggle to frighten a neurotic 85 year old woman on this form, let alone a Premier League full back.
I like to blame Ashley Young for most things – even last week when I lost 20 quid I wondered if Young had some part in it – I can’t blame him for Valencia’s form but I still think he’s rubbish. Valencia used to be able to beat a man but I can’t remember ever seeing Young do so in his time at Old Trafford. He has escaped more widespread criticism simply because he’s hit a few 25 yarders during his stay at Manchester United. But, the fact remains, he’s pony.
Then there is Nani who can be brilliant but also has the uncanny ability to generate high levels of audience disdain with his serial profligacy. It’s hard to think af a player who makes more unforced errors. He says he wants to stay, but so would anyone for £120k a week. Again, he’s not consistently good enough to get United to a Champions League final.
The IB Times reckons that Goal.com reckons that someone they know reckons that Manchester United have met Tottenham officials to discuss the purchase of Tottenham’s Teenwolf, Gareth Bale. This signing would be about as good as it gets for United. He’s still young and and has 10 years of top football in him. His favourite player is the one that Manchester United have struggled so badly to replace – and Bale would be the perfect successor to the wonderful Ryan Giggs. Tottenham’s Bale isn’t as good as Ronaldo but, being 5 years younger, he may represent a better investment. Manchester United have 3 right footed wingers and Zaha to come in. So we definitely think that it’s down the left where they need to invest. At a mooted £70m the transfer remains a long shot but the Tottenham winger would be a superstar at Old Trafford.
Then there is Robert Lewandowski, the Borussia Dortmund striker, who is likely to leave his club in the summer. A widely reported target of Manchester United, the player has apparently intimated that he would prefer a move to the North West of England than to his other main suitors and Dortmund’s fierce rivals Bayern Munchen.
The 24 year old is likely to command a fee of £18m and the Telegraph states that the player ‘has been encouraged’ by United’s interest in the player. Quite where he would fit into a United squad, with 4 strikers already chomping at the bit for minutes, remains unclear. Something would have to give. Which brings us back to Mr.Rooney. But, just to clarify, we still think that the rumours of him leaving are Boloni. You would surely take Rooney over the decent, but fairly conventional Polish striker any day. Wouldn’t you?
Right, I’m off to find something to blame Ashley Young for.
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