Reds linked with Huntelaar

June 26, 2009

Klaas Jan Huntelaar at his Madrid unveiling

KLAAS Jan Huntelaar is the latest big-name striker to be linked with a move to United.

Given the number of big-money signings at Real Madrid this summer, it would be no surprise if Huntelaar found himself surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu Stadium.

And, as any attempt to lure Karim Benzema to Old Trafford looks fraught with difficulty, it is not a shock either that it has been suggested a move for Huntelaar by Sir Alex Ferguson is on the cards.

Although he is a key part of the Dutch side that became the first European team to qualify for the World Cup Finals earlier this month, Huntelaar has not appeared to settle in Spain since joining Real in January this year.

The 25-year-old former Ajax star scored eight goals in 20 appearances for his new club. However, he was omitted from their Champions League squad in favour of Lassana Diarra and an approach from Ferguson may well pay off.

Not that United - about to pocket £80million from Real for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo - are exactly short of possibilities in the attacking department.

Apart from Benzema, who would cost around £30million if he could be prized away from Lyon, Atletico Madrid's Argentina front-man Sergio Aguero appears to feature on United's radar, even though the team-mate of former Old Trafford striker Diego Forlan would cost at least £10million more.

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

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JOAN LEONARD (26/06/2009 at 09:12)

I would be very happy to have him at united. He is big and can hold up the play. He also can score goals, which is what we need.Also dutch players settle in england very quickly.bring him on !!

Robbo, N2409, M16 (26/06/2009 at 09:13)

Yes, we've been linked with Huntelaar by that most objective of transfer analysts, Klaas Jan Huntelaar's agent.

No chance.

JOAN LEONARD (26/06/2009 at 09:14)

I would be very happy to have him at united. He is big and can hold play .He scores goals and that is what we need. Also dutch players tend to settle quickly in england so that should not be a problem. Bring him on !!

Duncan, London (26/06/2009 at 09:16)

No thank you. I heard we were closing in on Benzema with a 30 million bid.

Brian, Brussels (26/06/2009 at 09:29)

Big and slow, we already have one of those thanks.

manc abroad, OT (26/06/2009 at 09:36)

Lyon have put in a bid of 15 million for a striker. I would like to see Benzema at United, but Huntelaar would give us the four strikers we need and at 18 million (Real paid) it would leave money in the kitty for new midfield talent.

This would also give United the oportunity to loan out our youngsters who would get a lot more first team experience than they would get at OT.

Free Red, Manchester (26/06/2009 at 09:37)

Looks like the Reals original offer made to the glazers representatives last year of a player plays cash is on the cards after all.

Gilly, Belgium (26/06/2009 at 09:40)

Not a bad young player !!
i watch him play quite often in the dutch league and spanish , (when he played )
Another Ruud , maybe !??

Fredrik, Sweden (26/06/2009 at 09:43)

Selling Ronaldo to Real and buying Huntelaar would really set the standard. Not good enough.

paul leigh (26/06/2009 at 09:45)

We will get a load of stick for taking Madrids cast offs while they plunder our golden talents. It would be a right laugh if we got him and he scored 30 odd goals next season though!!

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (26/06/2009 at 09:50)

Can someone please wake me up when this is all over . . . .

Gerry, Glastonbury (26/06/2009 at 09:50)

Another load of rubbish - who's next I wonder? Phil Mitchell? Ken Barlow? Batman?

Red Rob, Fifth Quadrant (26/06/2009 at 10:17)

Just what is going on at Old Trafford?

I'm not one of those who believes we should buy for the sake of it, but there's a gaping whole where Ronaldo and Tevez were, and Rooney and the waste of space that is Berbatov are not going to fill it.

We're linked with Benzema, but Real Madrid look like spiking our guns. We're linked with Aguero, but we're told he'll cost a fortune and, anyway, he's not prolific. We sniff after Douglas Costa, then make an offer his club think is derisory.

Now the latest name in the frame? Huntelaar. That has to be a joke. We had a good look a year or so ago, and he wasn't up to the mark then. He went to Real, was found out by that under-achieving mob and was even jettisoned from their European squad. And we're suddenly meant to believe he's the answer to our goalscoring problems?

Valencia is coming (unless Real hijack that, too) but someone at Old Trafford needs to get a grip of things. If we're not careful, we'll end up going right to the end of the transfer window again when we'll be forced to pay a ridiculously inflated fee, like last year, for a player who is little better than mediocre.

Red Dawn (26/06/2009 at 10:26)

I'm not so sure about that Robbo.

I heard yesterday he could be on his way to United, even before reports started appearing, although regardless of how strong the word is, I'm still only treating it as rumour.

He'd be a better option in my opinion than the Madrid-loving Benzema and available at less than half the price.

Look at it this way. You'd get Huntelaar and Valencia for £30 million, whereas Benzema would cost that and probably more on his own.

Rob Lawrence (26/06/2009 at 10:37)

It may just work - if we had someone who could actually put in decent crosses regularly! (Nani - you have got a lot of practice to put in!!!) Could also be a good stop gap until we get a decent striker at sensible prices next year...

nas99, Stretford (26/06/2009 at 10:39)

If we are getting Benzema why are we going for this person? Would like to see Macheda get a run next season and see if he fulfils his potential.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (26/06/2009 at 11:00)

His goal scoring record is decent and if we cant get other targets he would be useful,though that depends on the price, should be about 11-13 million no doubt real will charge us 40million for there cast offs and we will pay it, would like schneider as well.

OLE_GEND, North East Stand - Quadrant (26/06/2009 at 11:03)

This isn't going to happen. End of.

Eric-Forever (26/06/2009 at 11:14)

Intrestin one in the mirror this morning.....utd using nani as bait to wigan for valencia. Ok, its the mirror so its about as reliable as a sell out at the council house(only happens twice a year) but it raises some interesting questions...has SAF given up on nani or are the purse strings being tightened...or has fergie earmarked the ronaldo money for other targets so wants to minimise the outlay on valencia? I know how frustrating nani is and lets face it last season he was pants but am i the only one who thinks that with the right motivation he could end up being as good as Ronny? I honestly believe he has more natural ability than just about anyone at the club...we just need to focus it properly

Lord Ruud (26/06/2009 at 11:30)

I've got mixed feelings on a player like Huntelaar - he is obviously a good finisher but for me he is a bit one-dimensional and I'm not sure how he would fit in with our style. For me, he is not in the class of Van Nistelrooy - who he often compared to - and the other problem is would he be happy to sit on the bench especially with a world cup coming up.

The main emphasis up front this season should be bringing the best out of Berbatov and Rooney - who are now are best two attacking players and both class players if used correctly.

david allen (26/06/2009 at 11:34)

He simply isn't good enough. I've seen a lot of him and he does nothing outside the box, and hasn't got any pace. A complete waste of money, let City buy him, they seem to like average players!

reddevil4ever, India (26/06/2009 at 11:49)

We will have to fight Spurs, Roma and Stuttgart to sign Klaas and we still have ignoramuses here asking who he is.
Lets not fool ourselves we will have to pay top dollar for any mediocre player and Huntelaar could be our next Dwight Yorke or RVN.
Manc Abroad and Joan know what they are talking.
I have watched him for the last three years and he is a great player who is still improving though he is already world class. Do not think of him as a Real castoff, Real have lost their head.
He is tall, reasonably fast and has a terrific strike rate, just pray we get him.
We would not have enough funds to repair our midfield should we pay a King's ransom for Villa. Villa would find it tough in England with our crap refereeing and phsical game, plus he is two years older than Huntelaar.
Any news from the inside about us using Nani aa a make weight in the Valencia deal? Pls tell me its not true.
Tevez has taught this club a good lesson not to take anything for granted.
I fear this summer could turn out a lot worse than last year.

Jaco, South Africa (26/06/2009 at 11:54)

huntelaar would imo be a 3rd of 4th choice target if we fail to get David Villa, Benzema or someone else who is proven at the top level. I'm sure Huntelaar will score more goals than Rooney and Berbatov, but he is not the hottest property available. We have to be going for top quality proven players to strengthen our squad...

tooth&claw, manchester (26/06/2009 at 12:17)

Well, we shouldn't be linked to Huntelaar but with SAF and Gill not saying anything about anything idle journalists have to fill the transfer gossip with something. I think I've made my view on Huntelaar plain over a long period of time. He's like a more disruptive van Nistelrooy but without as many goals, with less mobility, less creativity and a bad attitude. And, just to put that into context, RVN wasn't very creative or mobile.

Bill Wirral (26/06/2009 at 12:29)

Red Rob don't get so upset with paper talk. Cause thats all it is paper talk. We are being linked with everyone and its fine to comment on each individual rumour. Thats what makes these pages good fun. But don't have a go at the club just because of a headline. These journalists make it up or put it down to sources. John Richardson reported 40 mill bid for Torres. Never going to happen. Remember Richardson? he said Rio was a done deal to Chelski after the meeting with Kenyon. We will get someone when SAF or the club tell us we've got him.

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