Rumour mill: Veloso still on radar

November 21, 2007

MIDFIELD TUSSLE: Miguel Veloso challenges Paul Scholes

UNITED have again been linked with a January move for Portuguese holding midfielder Miguel Veloso.

Sir Alex Ferguson is said to have received impressive scouting reports on the 21-year-old Sporting Lisbon star.

Ferguson will have the chance to take another look at Veloso when Sporting visit Old Trafford in the Champions League next Tuesday.

Real Madrid are also monitoring his progress, but given United's strong ties with Sporting - Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani came from there - The Guardian reports the Reds would have the edge in the race for Veloso's signature.

If Veloso were to arrive, Ferguson would have an embarrassment of riches in midfield with Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Anderson and Paul Scholes all vying for central roles.

Would you like to see Veloso at United? Have your say.

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Mushhhty (21/11/2007 at 11:12)

I am really hoping this is true. His arrival will spell the end of Fletcher and Oshea. Technically gifted, great tackler and distributor of the ball. Excellent versatility - can play in the middle, as central defence or Left back. Get him Fergie!

Mushhhty (21/11/2007 at 11:14)

I should also add that in my opinion he is much better than hargreaves and at only 21! Any doubters should watch him in action against when Sporting visit netxt week. Fantastic!

Birdy, Ireland (21/11/2007 at 12:07)

I dont know too much about him, only seem him in the Champions League. He looks good though, and all the reports on him are positive, plus he's versatile without being a jack of all trades and master of none, so yeah, go for him, why not. Besides, OH seems to be a bit injury prone and without him we dont have a tackler in the middle.

However, and its a big however, our priority should be a striker, so if the funds are there then get Veloso, but not at the expense of a striker

george (21/11/2007 at 12:11)

Well mushty;if he's as good as you say we should get him.Certainly our less gifted players are under threat now.All of a sudden it looks like we're becoming a total football outfit.

A Mancunian, Manchester (21/11/2007 at 12:28)

Get him in January, Fergie. Clean and clinical.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (21/11/2007 at 12:40)

Striker, right back & then ... just maybe !

Bill69, Bury. UK (21/11/2007 at 12:48)

Good news at last. This is the second best idea bar buying a new striker which I have advocated all along. We must try to perfect this team of ours to win the championship again, and even the European Champs League. We need the goals even though they have been sneaking back lately, but missed chances,oh!Now will someone tell me when my home town lad Neville is coming back. I keep hearing tomorrow, next week, but am beginning to think he is in an Ole Gunnar position. Someone brighten me up especially SAF.
Bill69
Bury

Mushhhty (21/11/2007 at 12:57)

Balders - RB is sorted for the long term. The Brazilian twins arrive in Jan and from what I have heard the RB is exceptional. Will be ready to be introduced over the next two seasons as understudy, hence Fergie is looking to get Sagnol in for a couple of seasons so that these guys can learn their trade from the best (both gary and sagnlol). I think Fergie will probably buy Menzes and Jovetic, who are both young and would make perfect additions to our fowared line, i.e. two footed and very quick.

vij, london (21/11/2007 at 13:06)

i think utd r going to do a good bit of business in jan coz if veloso comes in he is a holding midfielder just like hargo flecth and carrick but with carrick, spurs want him we can do a straight swap with berba that will be good business for us so we hav got a striker that we need and we still have 3 very good holding midfielders n then if we need we can get hutton so thats good business done for around 20 million WE GET THE STRIKER WE NEED AND A RIGHT BACK AND ALSO A YOUNG HOLDING MIDFIELDER plus we hav got this brazilian twins coming in jan so that should see 5 new players comin in jan JUST HOPING THOUGH

Steve, Glossop (21/11/2007 at 13:08)

Agree that a striker is the priority but if this guy is that good & his preferred club is United I hope we don't miss out. If money is the problem then as George infers maybe someone has to leave & given Veloso's best position then I know who I'd sell & it isn't OH.

vij, london (21/11/2007 at 13:19)

just watch his freekick against holland on youtube the guy can take GOOD FREE KICKS AND WUDNT WASTE ANY OF THOSE LOOKS LIKE HES GOT A GOOD LEFT FOOT JUST CHECK IT OUT ON YOUTUBE

vij, london (21/11/2007 at 13:23)

WE JUST NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK WITH MR VALTINHO IS VELOSO BETTER OR MOUTINHO COZ VALTINHO SAID THAT MOUTINHO IS BETTER THEN MOST OF THE HOLDING MIDFIELDERS

The Gordon Hill Fanclub (21/11/2007 at 14:12)

...any truth in the following rumor - barcelona looking to swap messi plus cash for darren fletcher in the january sales?

TAKIN, strasbourg france (21/11/2007 at 14:16)

balders?RB?the brazilian twins?can someone please explain me who they are?and when will they be in the squad?Veloso in means fletcher out?what about berbatov?of course veloso and berbatov will help us win more games:so get them saf

Django (21/11/2007 at 14:32)

We only seem to "notice" players just after they have signed long term contracts and their price has, therefore, multiplied. Veloso would join a long line including Hargreaves, Carrick and Anderson. Hutton at Rangers could be next by some accounts.
The measure of a good scouting system is to get them to the club before they sign up with their existing clubs long term and before the world and his wife get interested and bid the price up. Apart from Evra, I cannot think of a transfer to United in the last decade where we have sprung a surprise and got real value for money.

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (21/11/2007 at 14:34)

Subtle Steve !! I like it. Do you mean Scholes ??

Iben Wong (21/11/2007 at 14:39)

I have seen him play a few times and believe he is good but nothing to drool over. For me it would depend on Fergie's plans for the "Godchild" and Carrick....because it would seem we have sufficient cover if he were to keep these two. A striker and RB are surely needed, although maybe Simpson can offer good cover. It would be nice to see someone come up from the reserves! So bottom line if Saha's fragility is still in the picture then we need some top class cover who is not cup tied...in January!!

Birdy, Ireland (21/11/2007 at 15:44)

Good shout Steve! Keep the flag flying!

Daniel Stocks, Bolton (21/11/2007 at 16:16)

Aparently he can also play at centre half or left back, so maybe he would be used as cover for a number of positions. Scholesy won't be around forever - maybe in a couple of years Veloso, Carrick, Hargreaves and Anderson will be competing for the two midfield places (or 3 places when playing away in Europe?)

george (21/11/2007 at 16:36)

Extremely witty Steve!
It'll be a job to get in the reserves let alone on the bench if we buy all recommended.
Both at right back and striker we have enough class to make do and mend.No need therefore to rush anything.Stick with the policy of buying talented players only.
Nev is struggleing to come back.At his best he'd get in the team but I suspect the edge might have gone off his performance.

COLIN, CANADA, Canada (21/11/2007 at 16:41)

A lot of you are talking about Veloso in and Fletch/O'Shea out. First of all, JOS is a defender. Second Fletch is down to number 5 behind four pretty strong mid fielders. Either Scholes has indicated that it's time to go or Fergie is unhappy with Carrick. Veloso is a terrific player so if this article is valid and SAF wants him, someone is on the way out. It's just a matter of time before Fletcher ends up at Everton or maybe Celtic but Hargreaves health and Pauls recurring injuries plus his age are a concern.

Fredrik, Sweden (21/11/2007 at 17:14)

OH's and Saha's recurring injuries must make life difficult for Fergie. OH is the only midfielder who can tackle and has pace. Saha is the only striker we have who can play as a target man, is good in the air and has pace. So it would be great to have some cover for these players. Veloso in and Fletcher out, net spending 5-6m? Great deal.

Pravda (21/11/2007 at 17:21)

"You want to protect your own, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, for the good of the game in England, it would be good to see more home-based players at the top clubs.

Sir Alex Ferguson...6/11/07

You couldn't make it up! Oh the irony.

Justin The Great, manchester (21/11/2007 at 17:41)

maybe fletcher has finally been recognised as rubbish by fergie or maybe he wants out?? maybe carrick wants out?? this is quite strange - however i dont agree that we need another RB as simpson has proved he is class and although i rate wes highly i think simpson should get a few more chances ahead of wes while neville is out...
plus we got these twins coming in jan... were gonna end up with a swelling squad like ch£l$ki... and i can imagine half of the youngsters will be wasted talent like Rossi...
striker is main priority, then a pacey skillful left winger, then veloso

Alias Smith, over the moon (21/11/2007 at 20:46)

I suppose when you only have one thing to say, it's best to be inventive how you say it, in the hope that people don't cotton on.

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