**Summer Transfer Thread: News, Rumours and Speculation**

[Burned_Alive]

Zidane has talked about Ribery a lot in relation to RM, so I think he will. Sadly, it's also looking like Alonso will be off to Madrid too. Really hope he doesn't go, but really couldn't blame him if he did go.

 

[Loki]

I hope RM fall flat on their face next season, them spending like this is only a bad thing for football!

Even if they win bugger all till Doomsday all these signings are business first and foremost. Whatever they spend, they will recoup that within 18 months two years maximum

 

[andy@moFo]

I love the bloke but I don't think Alonso would fit.

Ronaldo, Kaka, Diarra, Ribery/Robben.

 

[gazzamcg]

Doubtful if Utd will up there bid but the report said Madrid and Utd agreed a fee and he would have been happy to join us. Albeit Madrids was some €6M above ours. Makes you wonder if they will go after Ribery & Alonso still

Previously he's said his first choice was to play in Spain.

And by the sound of it indeed Madrid have a lot more bucks to spend.

 

[andy@moFo]

Even if they win bugger all till Doomsday all these signings are business first and foremost. Whatever they spend, they will recoup that within 18 months two years maximum

I think 18 months-2years could be a bit ambitious.

 

[BaZ87]

With any luck

He's certainly a talent, won best Young Player at the Euro's back in 2004 and seems to have the pace and a few tricks about him. He obviously though needs to up his goal scoring and be reaching at least 10 a season for us.

He must have been good to be the first South American to win an award at the Euros

 

[Tom84]

.....Just said on SSN that he was in place to go to Man United, he was agreed contract and everything, practically done deal.

And then Madrid came in and put in a bid thats far bigger than Uniteds, and put him on a 6 year contract for huge money.

Real Madrid just outbidding everyone..

Wow really?

Ah well if he's more interested in money than playing then let him go, great prospect and would have been an exciting signing but he's by no means proven and would have been a risk at that money. Besides he's always said he prefers Spanish football so we could have done without another Ronaldo whoring himself to Madrid every summer had we got him

 

[Tom84]

He must have been good to be the first South American to win an award at the Euros

LOL must have been Germany in 2006 then, makes sense as I remember thinking at the time he only won the award ahead of Ronaldo because of Cristiano's behaviour during the tournament

 

[red11]

United really dont need another left back, I'm already concerned that due to Evra's form Fabio is barely going to get a look in as it is. Then there's O'Shea that arguably plays his best football in that position.

As for midfield I can tell you now than neither Arteta or Cahill are good enough to play for United although I take you point that now with Ronaldo gone we're lacking behind Chelsea and Liverpool in having a 20 goal a season midfielder but finding one if going to be nigh on impossible

I think they are both good enough for our team, I look at the top 3 midfields last season in the league:

Man Utd

Goals (assists)

Ronaldo - 18 (6)
Carrick - 4 (8)
Fletcher - 3 (0)
Scholes - 2 (2)
Park - 2 (3)
Giggs - 2 (8)
Nani - 1 (4)
Gibson - 0 (1)

33 goals - 31 assists


Liverpool

Gerrard - 16 (10)
Kuyt - 12 (8)
Benayoun - 8 (4)
Alonso - 4 (5)
Riera - 3 (4)
Babel - 3 (1)
Lucas - 1 (2)
Mascherano 0 (1)

47 goals - 35 assists


Chelsea

Lampard - 12 (10)
Kalou - 7 (4)
Malouda - 6 (7)
Deco - 3 (2)
Cole - 2 (6)
Essien - 1 (0)
Ballack - 1 (4)
Mikel - 0 (2)

32 goals - 35 assists

Someone like Cahill or Arteta would fit in quite nicely, I'm not saying they'd be on the teamsheet every weekend, but I look at our midfield last season and there should have been more goals definitely.

Cahill - 8 (5)
Arteta - 6 (6)

Both in a weaker team offensively and defensively (no offense intended to Everton fans), I think they have a lot to offer. And to think some people laughed at me when I suggested that I'd rather have Benayoun in the team than Park. *cough* Tummy *cough*

 

[Trusty]

Real's team is looking stunning!......The Galictico's Part Deux!!

Casillas

Ramos Albiol Pepe Marcelo

Ronaldo Kaka Diarra Sneider/ Ribery

Benzema Raul

 

[red11]

Also interesting to see the stats regarding Alonso's fantastic season and Carrick's crap one.

 

[BaZ87]

Yea and according to those stats Mascherano's ****

 

[Trusty]

http://www.football365.co.uk/story/0,17033,8652_5409317,00.html

Pretty much a done deal then..

 

[red11]

Yea and according to those stats Mascherano's ****

He's a defensive player though.

He does all the dirty work for Alonso, gives him room. Whereas Carrick does both.

 

[FrankJH]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ter_united/s/1123810_lyon_confirm_benzema_bid

direct quote from Lyon president stating no deal with any club as yet (as of today it seems)

Gerrard was a No10 for most of last season - bit harsh to include him in midfield numbers imo

(Think Arteta or Cahill COULD do a job for Utd, but arent they both older than the 26 year age limit for most purchases?

 

[BaZ87]

He's a defensive player though.

He does all the dirty work for Alonso, gives him room. Whereas Carrick does both.

Alonso's more defensive that Carrick

As for Arteta and Cahill; Cahill would never make it at a big club, Arteta's good enough but im not sure where he'd fit in at Utd.

 

[nikebee]

Think Arteta or Cahill COULD do a job for Utd, but arent they both older than the 26 year age limit for most purchases?

We haven't said we won't buy anyone over the age of 26, just we won't be spending silly money on them as their not worth the investment as their best years are beyond them or very quickly approaching. I could see us going for Arteta, but don't see him as a long term investment... he may be a short term fix for our left wing issues.

http://www.football365.co.uk/story/0,17033,8652_5409317,00.html

Pretty much a done deal then..

I don't believe a thing Marca says at all... it's probably just a come back story because of the reports that we'd pretty much signed the lad yesterday.

 

[Zeroecho99]

Jesus wept - when are Madrid going to stop their spending this summer - just how far are they going to go in rebuilding their team?!

 

[FrankJH]

According to reports in the Daily Mail Lyon have denied reports in Spain suggesting Real Madrid had signed their 21-year-old striker Karim Benzema ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal.

The newspaper intimates Lyon have received a far superior bid from an unnamed club, believed to be Manchester United, for the French international.

United’s bid is believed to be £38 million illustrating their determination to sign the striker.

More to follow.

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/22554/Lyon_deny_Real_Madrid_claims.aspx

considering both sources its questionable to say the least but hey

We haven't said we won't buy anyone over the age of 26, just we won't be spending silly money on them as their not worth the investment as their best years are beyond them or very quickly approaching. I could see us going for Arteta, but don't see him as a long term investment... he may be a short term fix for our left wing issues.
.

Fair point although I still think its unlikely given their ages

 

[jakeke]

Real's team is looking stunning!......The Galictico's Part Deux!!

Casillas

Ramos Albiol Pepe Marcelo

Ronaldo Kaka Diarra Sneider/ Ribery

Benzema Raul

Apart from 3 poor defenders who will leak goals against top English teams and Raul, that is a mighty, mighty strong team.