Keane in for Saha

Stuart Mathieson

July 16, 2008

Louis Saha

ROY Keane is ready to offer Louis Saha a chance to end his Old Trafford misery by signing him for Sunderland.

The Reds striker is surplus to requirements at United after making just 76 starts in four and a half seasons.

Black Cats boss Keane, who knows the France international's qualities well after starring alongside him, could wipe the slate clean and give the troubled player a fresh start.

Keane believes that a change of scenery will benefit Saha and re-start a career which bristled with promise when he joined the Reds from Fulham for £12.8m in 2004.

Saha's fate as a United player is expected to be sealed if the Reds, as seems likely, land Dimitar Berbatov from Spurs before the new season kicks-off.

But for now, Sir Alex Ferguson and his squad fly to South Africa tomorrow afternoon unsure of the final make-up of the squad for next season.

As the Reds gear up for the new term with a friendly against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, the United boss is awaiting progress in the Berbatov chase.

Spurs are holding out for more than the £20m United are initially prepared to spend on the Bulgarian goalscorer.

United have previous experience of protracted transfer dealings with Tottenham when Michael Carrick signed in 2006 after a saga of several weeks.

Should United sell Saha, and for how much? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (28) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Octavius Tinsworth Ace (16/07/2008 at 09:24)

No change of scenery will help Saha's chronic injury problems. He seems a good egg, and I wish him all the best if he does move and thank him for the times he has turned out for United (when he's normally done well) but he seems to be made of balsa wood.

bobbydazzler (16/07/2008 at 09:25)

hope he goes and soon a player who has been an absoloute disater financially and has been available for less than 30% of our games .

SuperstarTevez (16/07/2008 at 10:06)

Saha's apparent "misery" at Old Trafford is all injury related. I can't see how a change of scenery can change this. I think a fit Saha is an asset to any team but the injurues are just too much of a liability. I'd like Saha to stay but I'd wish him well if he moved on.

Lord Ruud (16/07/2008 at 10:08)

Another story without quotes...

Gerry, Glastonbury (16/07/2008 at 10:47)

Keane seems to take all the United nearly men and it's interesting to note that both Fulham and Roma decided against Saha in the end?
He has to go but I don't think they'll be any fee involved. I'm not sure a struggling Sunderland side is Saha's best option quite frankly?

SuperstarTevez (16/07/2008 at 10:48)

I also wonder how many of Saha's injuries are in his own head. Ferguson has stated several times, "the boy doesn't think he's quite ready yet", which would suggest some of them are.

red fred (16/07/2008 at 10:59)

sunderland or united B team (united rejects and vets)?

maybe at this rate we will get some FC United fans supporting sunderland

BigNorm_85 (16/07/2008 at 11:03)

It's impossible to argue that Louis's injury record makes for terrible reading and we cannot spend another season rely on him to spend a season injury free. All that aside, he won'

De Guvnor, Stretford, Manchester (16/07/2008 at 11:14)

I actually don't mind Saha and he is a good player on his day with lots of qualities. However, the problem is that we don't seem to have many of those days anymore!

I would sell him but if we do, we have to promote some of the youngsters, such as Welbeck and Brandy to the senior squad and actually play them instead of loaning them out.
They aren't getting the chance to develop and we should learn a lesson from last season when we let a talent go in Rossi. We could have really done with him, although we still did the double, it would have been a bit easier. I think realistically that we really need 4 strikers, so if we are not going to promote anyone, we might as well keep him and buy one other.

Robbo, N2409 (16/07/2008 at 11:17)

I love Saha as a player but, seriously, his injury problems are now beyond satire. Last season, for example, I think he got injured in the warm-up not once... not twice... no, not even three teams... yes, I think it was actually FOUR times. That makes him probably the only player in the league who, even if his name's on the team-sheet, only has a 50% chance of playing. Not only that, he must be on reasonable money, too, so selling him would probable save around £4m in the wages department. Wish him all the best wherever he goes. Ps If Hull seriously want to pay £5m for Frazier Campbell, then that sounds very good business. The only young striker we need to keep is Danny Wellbeck.

BigNorm_85 (16/07/2008 at 11:32)

There can be no doubt that Louis's injury record makes for terrible reading and that we cannot rely on him being injury free for a full season. All that aside, he will not command a large transfer fee as other teams will be reluctant to take a gamble on him for big money and hence there will be no swelling of the OT coffers. I've heard rumours of 3.5 million!! Despite his injury prowess Louis would love to be a big hit at Old Trafford. When fit, Louis Saha is one of the top strikers in the English league. If he were stay fit and play a regular part, he would guarantee 25 goals a season. He has strength, speed, technical ability and he's an excellent header of the ball. If fit (...and I know it's a ridiculously big IF), he's a far superior striker to the likes of Robbie Keane, Roque Santa Cruz, Benni McCarthy, Dean Ashton, Benjani, Defoe, Crouch, Kuyt, Bellamy, Yakubu, Johnson, the list is endless! He's so different to all the other strikers we have on our books. If there's no cash benefit (other than wages) to getting rid of Louis, I can't think of a better option to have on the bench. I'm desperate to get Berbatov on board but keeping Louis would further strengthen our hand. There's absolutely no benefit to getting rid of Louis Saha. Loan out Campbell and Wellbeck to get them experience and even Manucho for that matter. If we want to have a pool of 4 strikers, there would no stronger option than Rooney, Tevez, potentially Berbatov and Saha. Keep Saha, lets not cut off our nose to spite our face!

edinburgh red, edinburgh (16/07/2008 at 11:35)

I was watching the season bf last's title winning dvd where saha started the first 10 matches, and he was excellent and we scored loads of goals, unfortunately we dont get to see this very often so while it's a shame as he's ideal for our type of play he has proven he cant be relied on, how many times has he pulled out of games in the warm ups. Sell to keane for 4 million and have some sort of clause to get more money if he scores and certain amount or have a laugh and make it appearances.

Michael Rutherford (16/07/2008 at 11:42)

Ideally United should loan Saha to Sunderland or whoever so that they can give him a chance to play preferably under Keane and then make a decision to sell or keep later on depending on the outcome this season.

Macca, Cornwall (16/07/2008 at 12:02)

Bignorm, i agree. there is no point in selling him for such a small amount, we gain nothing from it. he would still be a useful member of the squad, as many already say he is one of the top strikers in the league when he is fit and interested. you never know he may have a lucky break this year and then we'd regret selling him. keep him and hope he stays injury free.

Southern Red (16/07/2008 at 12:51)

I’m not a great Saha fan but I suggest we give him the opportunity to cover the injuries of Ronaldo and Manucho. If he can’t stay fit, get rid in Jan to save the wages. Keano wont be offering much anyway.

Be interested to see if he makes it up the aircraft steps tomorrow.

Demo, Glossop (16/07/2008 at 12:56)

macca and bignorm i agree that he is very good when fit but we have kept him on in hope he will be fit next season too many times now. we cant keep him in the squad preventing us buying strikers or supressing some coming through the ranks to be disappointed again with the news "saha injured in warm up"

Roger, Ontario, Ontario (16/07/2008 at 13:48)

They should sign Pablo Vitto of Independiente. Saw him last night in Toronto. He is brilliant.

Danny, Wilmslow (16/07/2008 at 14:06)

He just never did it he seems happy just getting paid sitting on his bum.
MADRID
We don't need overpaid Ronaldo over here - Sneijder prepares to make Cristiano Real-ly welcome in Spain
Real Madrid star Wesley Sneijder believes that a move for Cristiano Ronaldo would create a bad atmosphere at the Bernabeu. Sneijder feels Ronaldo is one of the top talents in world football and would be a fantastic addition to the squad - but his wage packet would cause unrest in the camp

Robbo, N2409 (16/07/2008 at 14:34)

Proof, if any were needed, that King Louis's a bit soft in the head... World Cup semi-final 2006. France are 1-0 up and seconds away from the final. On jogs super-sub Louis, already carrying a card, to see out the last few kicks. What's the first thing he does? Launch into a pointless, two-footed scissor tackle midway inside the Portugal half. Booking for Louis. Louis misses World Cup final. Oh dear.

BigNorm_85 (16/07/2008 at 14:37)

Demo, Glossop - I share the disappointment and frustration at the never ending injury scenario but as the benefits financially of getting rid of Saha aren't significant, the question is, is Saha better than Wellbeck, Frasier and Manucho. The answer is undoubtedly yes in which case it would be more beneficial to allow the others to go and cut their teeth on loan elsewhere for now. If Saha can get 6 months fitness and form together he could easily prompt a 10 million pound offer from clubs struggling come the xmas/new year period.

stevi, france (16/07/2008 at 15:53)

Sunderland would probably only take him on a short loan with all the injury problems he has had, if it turns out he got over these problems then keep him and have him back for the run in...when he's fit he is a cracking player.

Roy (16/07/2008 at 17:49)

The point about Saha is that if he goes Utd gain a 70k/week wage packet that they can give someone else.

He has had 4 seasons to woo Utd fans and these were his best years. It happened at the first half of the 2006/07 but that is about it.

It's over, it's like flogging a dead horse. I hope he does get a new start and I hope he fulfils his potential in his last playing years but Utd can do better and should move on, and so should Saha.

REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (16/07/2008 at 18:11)

Sell now for 5million.

COLIN,, Canada (16/07/2008 at 18:43)

I think his head is done in and he needs some quiet time on the couch talking about his parents and his pet poodle. The doctor should have the first name of Eric then when he is sorted and all the seagulls are following the trawler we go with Roo, Tevez, Berbie and Louis. There. Sorted. Loan the kids out. None of them are ready.

eaststand, stockport (17/07/2008 at 00:12)

had a great start when he arrived thought this was the real deal, but injury after injury where was he on sat at aberdeen dont tell me he was injured

()

Report

Manchester United

Keane in for Saha

Add A Comment

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Business Finder

Poll

Obituary

Featured Jobs

Manchester Evening News

The UK's No. 1 Regional Newspaper & Website

Manchester United

Keane in for Saha

Add A Comment

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Business Finder

Business Newsletter

Poll

Obituary

Featured Jobs

Manchester Evening News

The UK's No. 1 Regional Newspaper & Website