Real eye Gaby swoop

Stuart Mathieson

June 19, 2007

ALL ACTION: Gabriel Heinze

SPANISH champions Real Madrid are ready to step up their pursuit of United defender Gabriel Heinze.

The Bernabeau giants are looking for a left-back to take over from Roberto Carlos, who has quit the club.

The Brazilian, who had a number of fall-outs with manager Fabio Capello, will join Turkey's Fenerbahce this summer and Real see Argentine ace Heinze as the perfect replacement.

Heinze doesn't want to make a decision on his future until his summer Copa America duty with his country is over.

He has become an Old Trafford favourite with his all-action style, but has not ruled out a move away from the champions.

Madrid are set to make enquiries sooner rather than later with deposed Spanish champions Barcelona and fellow La Liga clubs Villarreal and Valencia also interested.

Juventus, back in Serie A, are also long-term admirers.

Invoke

It is alleged Heinze, who signed from Paris St Germain in 2004 on a five-year contract, told United teammates at the end of the title-winning campaign that he would not be back for pre-season.

He could invoke the rule saying that anyone over 26 who has not been offered a new contract can buy out their current deal.

Heinze fought a see-saw battle with Patrice Evra last term for the left-back role and ended the campaign as the man in possession in the Cup final.

Evra himself has been the subject of interest from French Champions Lyon, but they have dropped the hunt for a left back after Eric Abidal was told he will be staying put.

Meanwhile, Reds legend Roy Keane could return to his old stomping ground in a bid to boost Sunderland's squad for their return to the Premiership.

The Black Cats' boss launched his summer spending with a £3m swoop for Greg Halford from Reading.

United strikers Alan Smith and Guiseppe Rossi are both thought to figure highly on Keane's wanted list and he is thought to be ready to make another bid to bring former Old Trafford striker Diego Forlan back to the Premiership from Villarreal.

Who do you think could be leaving Old Trafford this summer? Have your say.

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Birdy, Ireland (19/06/2007 at 09:21)

Oh God here we go.....think i seen this topic on a few threads before!

Hopefully Richardson is sold. Also Slyvestre, although not if Heinze is sold. Otherwise i'd keep everyone else i think

manc abroad, OT (19/06/2007 at 09:23)

It is usually the players you don't want to leave ala Heinze go and the players you would like to see leave, KR, Silvestre stay.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (19/06/2007 at 09:23)

Well if real want him, that means we will sell him for about 20p or something as they always fleece us, wouldn't be sad to see him go, good spirit but technically terrible.

Robbo, North Stand (19/06/2007 at 09:45)

I'm not overly keen on Darren Fletcher...

Joe, Malta (19/06/2007 at 09:46)

Heinze or Silvestre or both, Richardson for sure and if we land a decent striker Smith too can leave.

Free Red, Manchester (19/06/2007 at 09:49)

Who do I think could be leaving Old Trafford as part of Uniteds now famous revolving door policy? I would say Alan Smith and Louie Saha are both vunerable along with Gabriel Heinze. Guiseppe Rossi he doesn't cost that much but if the right offer came in the money would be taken. I think OGS will probably survive as the fans like him and he sells the 'legend merchandise' thing. I think Scholes and Giggs are in a similar position as OGS, but if the right offer came in I can see them being used as make weights and if Fergie has one of his famous tantrums I doubt any of the United team are safe.

Demo, Glossop (19/06/2007 at 10:09)

i think we should keep gabby! he looked a shadow of his former self but i put that down to lack of fitness and enough practise! give him a pre season and hopefully we can continue with 2 great left backs!

sly and richardson to go! i would love forlan to go to sunderland - i always liked him

dboy, eire (19/06/2007 at 10:20)

Richardson, Bardsley & Silvestre although it's more likely to be Heinze, which is disappointing.
Possibly Fletcher on loan
Saha if anyone is silly enough to buy him

Then close the exit doors 'til the end of next season

Frank Old Trafford (19/06/2007 at 10:32)

Well said Robbo!

Gerry, Glastonbury (19/06/2007 at 10:44)

If Heinze goes it will weaken the squad, Evra & Heinze are two top quality right backs. Keep both I say.
Agree with Richardson leaving and I have to say that Rossi should now be given more chances. That would mean Ole out in the cold and Smith out of the door but it would raise some funds for a better striker.
Saha must stay for at least another season.
Free Red - Scholes could go?
Your risking the lynch mob by even suggesting such a thing!!!!!

Robbo, North Stand (19/06/2007 at 10:48)

Well said Frank!

JonyB-), North Staffs (19/06/2007 at 10:55)

To be Honest - who goes depends on whos wanted??
We probably can guess whos vunerable - the players who have "Will Consider if offered Right Price(For ManU)/right club(for Player)" and definite "For Sale" signs. My Guess is:
"FOR SALE" - Richardson, Silvestre, Bardsley
"WILL CONSIDER" - Smith, Saha, Heinze, Fletcher, Eagles, Evra, Pique, Rossi
In the end i think it will depend on who comes in with what offer and if SAF thinks we have enough cover or can buy replacement in time.
But sounds like Heinze is making all the noises of pretransfer-speak. Problem is so is Pique if all the paper reports are to be believed?? So ithink at present those two most likely, but like many would like to see us off load Silvest, KR and bards. SAF did bring Pique into leftback slot when first played which might had extra cover and allow more game exoerience if both Heinze and Silves leave (remembetring JOS can play there??)

Macca, Cornwall (19/06/2007 at 11:14)

Cant see why there is speculation about Evra, he has only been at the club 18months and had a great 1st full season, he could be an integral part of our new pacey team - attacking from full back. i would be prepared to let Heinze go but 5mill is a joke, closer to £10m.

Jaco, South Africa (19/06/2007 at 11:19)

Heinze was not his solid self last season, which is kind of understandable after his injuries, but no less worrying. Even Evra seemed a safer defender than him. Gabby was especially at fault in Milan.

I would not be devastated if he left, but we would need another left back coming in in that case, unless Silvestre stays.

I do think, however that the only further spending we will do this summer is on a striker, so selling Gabby would not be a good idea.

If we "say" Gabby is not for sale, maybe Madrid will offer silly money and we can spend some of it on an up and coming left back.

Andy Bergen, Bergen, Norway (19/06/2007 at 11:32)

Possible squad:

GK:
vd Sar
Foster
Kuszczak (first half of the season)

Defence:
Neville RB
Rio CD
Vidic CD
Evra LB
Wes CD, RB
JOS RB, CD, LB, DM
Silvestre CD, LB
Evans RB, CD
Pique RB, CD, DM

Midfield:
Scholes CM
Carrick CM, DM
Hargreaves DM
Fletcher CM
Giggs LW, AM
Ronaldo RW, LW
Park RW
Nani LW
Anderson LW, AM
OGS RW, ST

Attack:
Rooney ST, AM
Saha ST
Rossi ST
New striker
Dong T-shirt

Sales:
Heinze
Bardsley
Richardson
Smith
(Eagles ++ on loan)

It is possible to loan either Pique or Evans and still have eight defenders. If Saha or Rossi gets sold/injured/loaned, we might need two new strikers. Wes, JOS, Silvestre, Fletcher, Park and OGS are players who are squad players who are happy to be at United and do not complain too much about it, and we need someone like that during a long season with a lot (hopefully) of games.

SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (19/06/2007 at 12:49)

Think Real Madrid should change their name to Real United!!! Heinze is a fan favourite and he loves to get in and battle but Evra did outplay him last season (he certainly impressed me!!). I'd really prefer it if Heinze stayed and Silvestre was shown the door but if I'm honest with myself it looks like Heinze is angling for a move. I can't see him settling for a place on the bench so this looks like it could happen but I do think we need to get at least our money back for him, around 7m. Real certainly have had some bargains from us in recent years. Support the team and Live the Dream.....

JonyB-), North Staffs (19/06/2007 at 13:20)

simon, unfortunately max we can get is £4-5mil becuase with new rule about 5 yr contracts - states player with 2yrs left of 5yr contract and therefore outside protected period can buy himself out of that ccontract which for Heinze will be 4-5mil max

SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (19/06/2007 at 13:24)

Free Red, Manchester - "Uniteds now famous revolving door policy". Please give it a rest, everyone on this site agrees that United will need to trim their squad so why do you keep spouting this nonsense? I doubt if the Glazers are telling Heinze to go. Even the most bitter Anti-Glazer on here would agree that they haven't forced SAF to sell anyone to balance the books. Surely your not going to tell me that United can bring in 3 or 4 new players without letting any go? But to call it "Uniteds now famous revolving door policy" is simply stupid. Every team balances their squad from Real Madrid down to FCUofM. but it's nothing more than that so why do you insist, no-matter how much evidence is presented against you, that this is a Glazer policy that SAF must comply with? It's not, it never was and it never will be so just drop it. Support the Team and Live the Dream.....

SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (19/06/2007 at 13:30)

JonyB-), North Staffs - Good point mate, how did I forget that!!! Even so he can't be allowed to go for any less than 5m and from now on I think United should only give players over 24 4 year contracts to help prevent this scenario in future. Support the Team and Live the Dream.....

Xs, Mauritius (19/06/2007 at 13:37)

With the return of Evans and Pique from their loan spells it won't surprise me to see one or two of the current defenders leaving the club. The likely players are Heinze, Brown, Silvestre and Bardsley. I'm not so sure about Silvestre leaving simply because he won't fetch a big transfer price. Moreover he would be good cover for both the center back and left back positions. However things could be different for Heinze and Brown. Heinze seems to want out and would bring in around 5 millions. As for Brown I'm sure some teams would be prepared to pay good money for him and even it would be sad to see him go we need to bear in mind that we need to make place for Evans and Pique. So my guess is that from the current defenders in the squad we could see Heinze, Brown and Bardsley moving on soon.

Birdy, Ireland (19/06/2007 at 13:39)

Simon/FreeRed - please dont start again!
JonyB i think the chance for Heinze to exercise that option has passed. I remember readin Lampard coul dhave done it too but there's a 2 wk window or something when the season ends and it has to be done then

JonyB-), North Staffs (19/06/2007 at 13:41)

I think you're right about 4 yr contracts buut means we'll have the contract merry-go-round and paper nonsence(signing for this club or that club) much more often.......
I can agree i haven't seen any overt evidence that we're force to sell players to balance books 'cus if that was the case i'm sure you would see utd encouraging bids for Ronaldo, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Ferdinand, Vidic as players who would command large fees and in case of Giss and scoles last chance to get decent money for these two.....
The rest i must agree as simple house keeping not wasting money on players never going to make it and players who are fed up waiting to establish them selves or fed up with bench.....
Other than RVN, Stam and Beckham can't remember a player being sold who was established star... these players falling out are well established and in case of Stam & beckham pre Glazer. Don't believe they're good news just debating their impact on team matters.....

Steve in Brussels (19/06/2007 at 13:43)

What makes you think that Heinze will shell out 5 million quid to free himself from a contract eh? He is a well paid footballer but not Donald Trump. At Valladolid he would have earned 5k per week and PSG he would have earned maybe 20k tops. At United double or triple that. Why would he spend all the money he has earned (before expenses) at United to go back to the beginning?? If so he had better have had a good financial advisor otherwise he could not afford it! Real Madrid could though by giving him a back-hander (Club policy). On the topic of which Real just nicked the league and the spanish season is over. So to give advanced warnings expect many "Ronaldo dreams in white" stories from Marca and As devil propaganda press from now until 31st August

JonyB-), North Staffs (19/06/2007 at 13:47)

ps would love to see Baines as a replacement but the best left back i've seen is Chivu (ignore the roma-amn u gaome at old trafford whilst recovering from 'orrible facial injury!)

Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester (19/06/2007 at 14:00)

Surely Silvestre should be out of the door ahead of Heinze. I dont understand why we should let Gabby go unless it is purely for financial reasons

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