Following Wayne Rooney’s u turn on Friday and promises of investment, the papers have gone into over drive linking us with all manner of players. I’m pretty sure there is some truth in here but A LOT of it tripe. Makes for fun reading anyway, enjoy!
Manchester United could be about to launch a £50m bid to sign Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery and Tottenham winger Gareth Bale.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Manchester United’s owners – the Glazer family – promised striker Wayne Rooney they would buy an entire new team over the next 12 months in order to keep the England striker.
Full story: Sunday People
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has also been promised £100m to spend on new players over the next 12 months.
Full story: Sunday Express
Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson tops Manchester United’s wish-list while Michael Carrick and Park Ji-Sung could be offered to Tottenham in an attempt to land Bale. (News of the World)
But Manchester United will battle City to sign Torres and will bid £60m for the Spaniard and offer him £180k-a-week wages.
(Caught Offside)
Van Bommel’s compatriot Wesley Sneijder could be on the way to Manchester United after the midfielder’s contract talks with Inter Milan broke down.
Full story: Mail on Sunday
And Manchester United are also keeping an eye on Ashley Young’s situation and could also make a bid for the 25-year-old.
(Caught Offside)
FC Porto striker Hulk is a target for Manchester United, with Inter Milan also keen on the 24-year-old.
Full story: IMscouting.com
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra says he will only stay at Old Trafford if he believes the club are capable of winning major trophies. Full story: Mail on Sunday
Striker Wayne Rooney snubbed £288k-a-week wages at Manchester City to sign a new contract at Manchester United.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Rooney’s new contract is thought to have a break clause which means the striker can leave for as little as £30m if certain targets are not met on a year-by-year basis.
Full story: Sunday Telegraph
United have dismissed claims that the new deal with Rooney was agreed just so they can later demand a bigger fee.
Full story: Observer
Cristiano Ronaldo tried to lure his former Manchester United team-mate Rooney to Real Madrid with a series of secret texts. (News of the World)
Wayne Rooney told Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson he didn’t want to end up like Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard – carrying a team with a great history but no future.
Full story: Sunday People
Papers love to make up stories and any involving United make great reading – if only because 99% of them are total rubbish!
The only rumour I think has substance is Wesley Sneijder who has said before that United would be a definite option if talks with Inter broke down and that certainly seems to be the case.
Other players which United could sign (eligible for the Champions League?) would depend upon the money made available by the Glazers and I truly hope they understand how much money will be needed?
So many players are either at the end of their careers (Giggs, Scholes, Neville & Van Der Sar) or their usefulness to United is over (Carrick, Park, Anderson and possibly Ferdinand) so a hefty war chest is definitely necessary and hopefully will be forthcoming.
Sir Alex probably has the hardest job since he arrived at Old Trafford in rebuilding the squad but if anyone can do it, Sir Alex can and I am absolutely sure he will!
PS: Is Evra now ‘trying it on’ using the same tactics as Rooney did? It will be interesting to see how it turns out!
The story and quotes in the Evra story have been spun to appear negative