While Tottenham are in the middle of an almighty scrap with Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton for The 3rd and 4th Champions League spots for next season, Manchester United have already got their trophy in the bag. Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his desire to end this term with a record points haul of 96, which will require them to win their last 4 games. They may win this battle but the war is already won. So, by now, Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will be meticulously plotting for next season.
Spending spree?
David Gill has publicly acknowledged that Manchester United will be spending in the transfer market this summer. There will be huge speculation about who the targets are, but one them must surely be Gareth Bale. Whether or not a deal is financially feasible for Manchester United remains to be seen, but in terms of adding real quality to the squad, Bale must be foremost in Alex Ferguson’s thoughts. Manchester United fans will be hoping, at this stage, that Tottenham don’t qualify for Europe, as this will leave the door ajar for a transfer. And most of the United faithful would certainly prefer the transfer kitty to be spent on one world-beater than several players with potential.
Fuel for the fire
The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson adds fuel to the fire by talking about possible options for Manchester United in the transfer market this summer. The big hitter in his list is the Welshman Bale, who would be the perfect replacement for his all-time football hero, an ageing but still brilliant Ryan Giggs. Manchester United lack of natural left-footer for that flank and one could imagine Bale adding pace, guile, balance and fear-factor to this Manchester United side. Manchester United already have an excellent squad but it’s one of Sir Alex’s more workmanlike incarnations and, in the last couple of years, they have struggled in the big games in Europe.
Real Madrid were there for the taking in the 2nd round and got battered by Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night, to prove that Manchester United showed them way to much respect with their team selection at Old Trafford. With Bale in the team, United would have been on the front foot from the off instead of attempting to play a game of containment.
Bale to United?
The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson, who also includes ex-Tottenham man Luka Modric in a possible Manchester United wishlist says of Bale:
‘£50m is Daniel Levy’s asking price for the Welsh forward and the sense is that Ferguson would love to take him as an on-song Bale could well help United overwhelm domestic challengers and make United a serious proposition on the continent’
Of course Manchester United would want the player. The real question, and one we have been asking for a few years now, is do Manchester United still have the spending power to match their biggest rivals? £24m for RvP is no small sum but it’s a figure dwarfed by the projected Bale fee. Any deal would be sweetened by the fact that the 23 year-old would likely have a huge sell on fee or give Manchester United 10 years of service. Either way, getting Bale to Manchester United should be Sir Alex’s number one priority if he wants to finally rule the roost in Europe aswell as on the domestic front.
Let’s have a Terry Butchers at the Tottenham megastar in action shall we?
Manchester United fans, should Fergie pull out the stops to get Bale and can United afford him? And Tottenham fans, do you think Bale will seek a move if your club doesn’t finish 3rd or 4th?
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Bright
Apr 25, 2013 at 9:38 am
Man u should go for him
Luke
Apr 25, 2013 at 9:41 am
Not a chance in hell, Levy HATES fergie and the price would be double for united or the dirty, dirty chavs.
Sam
Apr 25, 2013 at 9:43 am
Brilliant article.
hoopspur
Apr 25, 2013 at 9:50 am
Spurs could not afford to let him go for that price. Possibly £50m abroad but certainly not domestically. SAF had better start looking elsewhere as it would require another £10m on top of that at least.
yiddo
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:05 am
Wont happen united dont have the cash to fork over £100 million for one player and that is what it will take to make Levy part with this asset and there isnt 1 player at united that would warrant a player plus cash deal. If Bale is to leave Spurs it will be to go abroad for two reasons Levy wont want him coming back to haunt us and he hates dealing with English clubs. But the fact is there is no deal to be had everyone seems to be forgetting Bale himself has stated he wants to stay and asked Levy to draw up a new contract for him. He is settled and has a new family which is nicley settled in London so he will be at Spurs for at least 1 more season if not more COYS
Jimbull
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:10 am
Could have Reus and Gundogan together for less and would have a much bigger impact on the squad.. Same league as Ronaldo?? Has done the bis for half a season, so has a long way to go to even get mentioned in the same breath as the portugesey.
azas
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:20 am
i think your being a bit too harsh. I would say he is probably slightly ahead of ronaldo bearing in mind his age. When Ronaldo was 23 there was just as much hype about him as Bale has right now. I think the big difference is that bale is more of a team player than ronaldo is. His crossing is much better than ronaldo aswell. What spurs need to do is build around him. We have sandro, dembele, vertonghen, lloris and bale as an excellent spine to work with. Build around those players and you can build a title winning team
Charles
Apr 25, 2013 at 11:02 am
Well written,you hit the nail on the head with an excellent spine to work with.I praised,hoped and prayed Spurs would buy Sandro long befor he arrived at White Hart Lane. Now to win the P.L i hope and pray the buy Leandro. Same type of player as Sandro only a different position.Here in S.A we watch Brazilian football weekly,this lad knows where the net is.
azas
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:12 am
I very much doubt he will go to united. Personally i think he will stay for at least one more season if we dont make the CL. But if we do then he will probably sign a new contract. Levy wont sell him. The important thing to remember is that he is British and not a money grabbing foreigner with no morals. Its easier to keep young british players.
I expect spurs to finish in the top 4 and i think bale will sign a new contract again. But if he was ever to be sold to another prem team it would have to be £100 million +
Joe
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:16 am
Like many people have commented previously. The Tottenham Chairman decided to never again sell his top players to other English clubs. He was burnt when Man Utd and Ferguson illegally ‘tapped up’ Berbatov, and his hatred for Ferguson runs almost as deep as his hatred for Abramovich and Chelsea.
Its a fantastic idea on paper, but totally impractical in reality.
madjeff
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:25 am
Well as I said last week, to get Bale first MANU must ensure Spurs don’t reach the top four. They could influence this outcome by having an inexplicable loss of form against both Chelsea and Arsenal.
Mark
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:27 am
Got no hope of getting him for £50 million, you’d have to add at least £10 million to that and being a Premier League rival the price goes up so probably more like £70 million.
Isaac
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:33 am
We need bale @ united and united will be unstoppable next season
George
Apr 25, 2013 at 11:14 am
Well we need him at Spurs too mate.
Amara uc
Apr 25, 2013 at 10:55 am
we need Bale
TonyT
Apr 25, 2013 at 11:13 am
Before I read this article… does it say “Bale replacement for Giggs” or “Bale, who is welsh, has noticed that Giggs is too, and he plays for Man United”
If so, this article is a hilarious rehash of one written 1,2,3,4 years ago.
Do United have £75m? No… d’oh!
harwan
Apr 25, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Yeaaahhh bale to man utd.$$ + anderson/smalling
George
Apr 25, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Dream on
Tony
Apr 25, 2013 at 11:27 pm
Levy gave a pledge to Spurs supporters on the official website, never to sell to Man Utd again after the Berbatov affair. He has kept his word. According to John Toshack (when Wales manager), Utd made a bid for Bale, later revealed to be £23m. Also journos have reported that in June 2011 Levy threatened Ferguson that if he continued to pursue Modric, then he would report him to the FA, and open up his dossier on Fergies past misconduct. The following year it was reported that Levy wouldn’t even answer Utd’s renewed phone calls for Modric- hence the spat over Zeki Fryers. Martin Lipton of the Mirror, has reported that Levy is equally adamant not to sell to Chelsea following approaches for both Modric and Arnesen. When Bale leaves it will be abroad.
Phil
Apr 26, 2013 at 3:12 am
Hi. Great clip….can you advise the title and or composer of the music your used as background.
Thank you.
I don’t know if anyone responds to questions but here goes?