Is there still light at the end of this transfer saga tunnel?
After the arrivals of David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, a large void was still left in the centre of midfield following the retirement of Paul Scholes, a void that many believed Sir Alex would fill with a Summer signing.
The likes of Wesley Sneijder, Samir Nasri and Luka Modric were all rumoured to be potential targets for United, but after Sir Alex’s comments, it looked as if those targets were no longer going to be linked with United. That was until David Gill’s interview on Tuesday. Speaking on MUTV, the United Chief Executive claimed that the club are looking to bring in one more ‘world class’ player, a statement that should bring hope back to United’s fan base. However, with the contrasting views between Chairman and Manager, it remains to be seen whether or not the United fans can expect another signing this Summer.
After Sir Alex Ferguson’s comments, the first question many United fans were asking was what happened to the proposed move for Wesley Sneijder. Many trusted news outlets and journalists were reporting that Sneijder had agreed terms to join United, and that the only stumbling block was the transfer fee between Manchester United and Inter Milan. Sneijder had reportedly originally demanded wages of £250,000 a week, but it was then reported that he had agreed to reduce his request to £190,000 a week. A £35 million transfer between United and Inter then looked imminent, but it was then reported that United had no interest in Sneijder.
It initially appeared that once again a proposed move for a player fell victim to both internet and newspaper rumours, but many trusted sources still claimed that a deal for Sneijder could still be struck in the near future. However, the proposed move once again hit another setback, following the news from Sir Alex that United’s Summer spending was over. Sir Alex was quoted as saying, “We are always looking for good quality players, however we are satisfied with the players that we started the season with. At the moment we are looking at central midfielders from within the club to replace Scholes.” Sir Alex’s comments put the likes of young players such as Tom Cleverley on note, as it then appeared that they would be called upon this season to step up and try to command the position that was once mastered by Scholes.
Cleverley had a successful season at Wigan, and many have tipped the England Under 21 star to be the one to replace Scholes, stating that he had the potential to achieve the success that Scholes obtained at United. However, at such a young unproven age, it is unclear whether or not Cleverley is good enough at this stage of his career to carry that pressure on his young shoulders, and with this Premier League season looking to be tougher than ever, it would appear to be unwise for Sir Alex to risk using Cleverley in such a staring role. This is why many United fans felt a Summer signing to replace Scholes was needed. While the signings of Ashley Young and Phil Jones were well received among most United fans, they were positions that United did not necessarily need to strengthen. If money was an object for United, it remained unclear why moves for these players were more craved rather than a move for a centre midfielder, a position which at the start of the transfer market, was arguably the position that needed strengthening the most along with the goalkeeper position following Edwin van der Sar’s retirement. Things then became more unclear when following Sir Alex’s comments, it looked as if United had finished their business in the transfer market for this Summer, that was until David Gill’s interview on Tuesday.
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Without a world class midfield player as Sneijder, United are destined to play second fiddle to Barcelona again.
I m sick of this rumors…….
It’s smoke and mirrors,gill knows by fans comments on forums that they are not happy that a world class midfielder has not been bought and he is trying to appease the fans,just like he has come out before each transfer window in the last few years and reiterated that there is unlimited funds available,and then fergie comes out with the no value stuck record.if Nasri and sneijder are the only players that the scouts can come up with they need to be sacked.everyone and his dog knows we need to strengthen our midfield,so not fergie?.scholes gone,giggs cant be asked to play every game,Anderson has not come good,carrick goes missing in a lot of games and seems at times lost the ability to pass forward.and if fergie is happy with most of the away performances last season then perhaps a trip to specsavers is due.
this time give over we agreed with David Gill still
carry on 1 more player
even a child can see manchester united’s weakness, i wonder what sir alex is thinking not wanting to sign a midfielder
there is no need to find a replacement. United just have to change the playing style with the current midfielders. Scholes is irreplaceable.
i genuinely believe that SAF is playing mind games with inter to reduce the price of sneijder by saying the club is not really interested means that the dutchman is not seen as important which may lead to inter negoiating a reduced price as sneijder is not required at inter anymore with the arrival of alvarez. I think everyone is going to see sneijder sign in around the end of the last week of the transfer window. SAF knows that in order to go above barcelona me needs a better midfield and only sneijder can really challenge barca’s midfield strength. without sneijder barca will be unstoppable again this coming season. so far SAF has got it right with the signings but you can see that he worries about the cost of sneijder but if he was clever the merchandize of the player would within a season would pay them back as pretty much every manutd fan would be wearing the shirt with his name on the back. so re-sale value wouldnt be a huge problem. SAF NEEDS TO BUY THE DUTCHMAN, A NEW RED DEVILS LEADER AT THE MIDFIELD FOR THE CURRENT AND FUTURE SUCCESS OF MAN UTD.
Once again United fans are on the rack. In my opinion, the signing of Wesley Sneijder would complete a very successful transfer window. Without him? A poor window.
As this article to rightly says, central midfield was the place that United NEEDED to strengthen, along with a new goalkeeper. Darren Fletcher needs a more creative partner, someone to fill the hole that Michael Carrick seems unable to fill. We’re strengthened admirably everywhere else on the pitch, with a supremely talented winger in Ashley Young to push Nani and Valencia, and a man for the moment AND the future in Phil Jones. De Gea too looks like our No.1 for years to come. Central midfield looks as poor as it did on the fateful night in Wembley.
The question on everyone’s lips is thus – will he sign? Most fans feel we need him. Perhaps Fergie thinks otherwise, but how can he ignore our glaring weakness in the centre of the park? Once again, what we need most seems to be furthest from our grasp. United need an extra 5%, a bit of star quality to bring the team together and to run the show. Will we get it?
Who knows.
I really do not think Sneijder is the player we need. Yes he is very creative and world class, but he is not a CENTRAL MIDFIELDER!!! He is an attacking midfielder which play behind the strikers. Rooney is playing in that role now behind hernandez. If we play 2 forwards up front (Chicharito and Rooney), Young or Nani can play behind them. Again, we need to have a central midfielder not an attacking midfielder. I would love to see bastian schweinsteiger join our team but i don’t think he will come. If we buy another midfielder. how can we give playing time to Cleverly, Pogba or Morrison? Please remember the class of 92. Everyone doubt Sir Alex and doubt the youngsters, but see what they have achieved?
If Sneijder didn’t really want to come here then he wouldn’t be willing to drop his wages by 60k/week. We need him and he’d really improve our attacking play. Let’s just get the deal done and try not to sour it any further. Gill kept telling us how much cash we have in the bank. Well, like many Utd supporters if we sign Sneijder I’ll rush out and get the jersey as soon as it hits the shops. He’d fill a month of programming on MUTV.