Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the green light to make one major signing before the start of the season.
United chief executive, David Gill, insists the money is available to bring a superstar to Old Trafford before the transfer window closes.
The Reds’ boss has suggested he is happy with his squad after signing Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez for a combined fee of around £20m last season – claiming there is no value in the current transfer market. But that hasn’t stopped him keeping tabs on Germany playmaker, Mesut Ozil, and Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema – if they become available.
Ozil could cost as little as £10m with only 12 months to run on his contract with Werder Bremen, while Benzema is valued at around £25m having struggled to make an impact at the Bernabeu.
And Gill says United are prepared to spend to big – but only on world-class stars.
“The money is there if we believe there is a player who can improve what we believe is a very good squad,” he said. “The team has been together for a number of years and done very well. In order to improve it a player has to be of a very high quality.”
Having finished just a point behind Premier League champions, Chelsea, last season, Ferguson believes his squad needs only minor amendments, rather than wholesale changes.
He also looks set to delay his plans to sign a long-term successor to Edwin van der Sar until next summer. But with Owen Hargreaves’ future in serious doubt after struggling to come back from double-knee surgery and Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes both reaching the twilight of their careers, midfield is an area of concern.
Fergie snub
Despite seeking a world-class playmaker, Fergie snubbed Joe Cole – who signed for Liverpool last week – instead focusing his attention on Ozil and Holland international, Wesley Sneijder.
Inter Milan are determined to keep hold of Sneijder, even with United prepared to pay as much as £29m for the World Cup star.
But Fergie retains hope of landing Ozil, whose contract situation could mean he is available on the cheap, despite a brilliant World Cup.
Gill confirmed that United are still in the hunt for new signings, even in the face of an inflated market.
“We are always looking at players,” he said. “We are looking 365 days a year – it doesn’t just start when the transfer window opens.
“We are looking at it. We studied a lot of players at the World Cup, but we knew about a lot of them before that.
“Over all I think Sir Alex is very comfortable with the squad composition. That’s not to say something won’t happen, but I think it is a ‘might’, not a ‘will’.
“We will see what happens over the next six weeks.”
Fergie and Gill know only a major signing before the start of the season will appease anxious supporters who believe the manager’s complaints of a lack of value in the transfer market are merely a smokescreen.
Disillusioned fans have already let their feelings be known by rejecting the opportunity to renew season tickets, forcing United to put 4,000 on general sale.
There is a feeling in some quarters that Fergie is being forced to operate with his hands tied behind his back, having spent only modestly since the departures of star showmen Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez last summer.
If you could sign one player who would it be? Have your say.
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What? Sign only one player? preposterous!
We need at least 3 players for every position each summer, never mind how they might fit in or if the squad gets ridicolusly big.
The more they cost the better, also one should use The Sun and other tabloids to find out which players other clubs are linked with and then outbid them by at least offering the double.
Squad composition and continuity is for the weak, we are massive
If you could sign one player who would it be?
Ronaldo
More PR rubbish from Gill to appease the fans. I don't believe anything the guy says anymore.
These comments do seem to be positive. Given that we have already tried to get Sneijder and YY Toure, we have to assume the club are looking to bolster the central midfield at least. I am not sure why he would say that we have funds for one "superstar" signing. Surely we could get Lee Catermole and Ozil (I mention these names as an example only) for a combined fee of about £30m. This would give creativity and cover for Hargreaves who we all regret is not likely to contribute very many games this season.
Then there is this very odd quote from Gill.
"Over all I think Sir Alex is very comfortable with the squad composition. That’s not to say something won’t happen, but I think it is a ‘might’, not a ‘will’. “We will see what happens over the next six weeks.”
Cryptic indeed, answers on a postcard please. At least now we can all have a good time speculating who might be coming and going before August 1st....!!! Good times indeed.
It's being reported in some sections of the media that Fergie may not include Hargreaves & Anderson in his 25 man squad. Surely he is not seriously thinking of going with the rest of the midfielders we have until January? Defour is no superstar but probably fits the bill and Ozil is an obvious target. I like Benzema but I think we can get by without another striker. It was'nt long ago that we could/would have signed at least 2 of the 3 who are all young and talented and with a resale value.
It's the same old cliches really. If Fergie really thinks that Gibson is our creative midfielder then Hello 3rd place. Ozil would make a world of difference and get rid of the nagging, negative vibes that have been floating around Old Trafford.
I really dont see how Ozil isnt value for money. German international, 21, cheap for his stature, and plays the position we need. just lodge a £15 million bid to stifle the rivals, and he will want to come.
I would like to see both Ozil and Sneijder join us. Forget signing more forwards.These two would create the chances for the players we already have up front.
They are no good when isolated alone up front,but I believe you would see the best out of them
with these behind them
Steve. (Bath)
Is this a smoke screen to the other smoke screen????
Weve got ill Aug 31st so any thing can happen in that time....... or will it?
Dont know about you but im checking the website every five mins just to see if anything HAS happened!!!
AAARGH!!!!
LUHG
Let's hope there is another Ralph MiIne out there I think we can afford that calibre. Trust Fergie he knows the noisy neighbours will not have a manager by Xmas the waiter will be gone and the bitters will be craving the blood of the brummie cook, proper citeh fan
Well I will wait and see, but I am not holding my breath. Ozil could be the final piece of the jigsaw, but whether we actually buy him is another matter.
ozil or sneijder is an absolute must but what about a cheeky bid for torres as well ????
Gill and Fergie are like a double act - good cop bad cop!! Yes we will and no we don't need to sign anyone. The reality is that anyone with an element of football knowledge know United need 2 quality re-enforcements - for midfield and up front. Let's see what happens. If I was a betting man I would bet they bring in the 2 players they need. All the World Cup players are coming back from holidays now so deals are more likely to progress. My targets would be Ozil and Benezma, both who would fit the age profile. I would also keep Cleverley and play him.
Obviously, the money is there. Unfortunately the new rules of PL means, any new player has to be real quality, and who's out there to strengthen this squad? There are not many.
It looks to me as if we'll get a midfielder, since both Hargo and Anderson are a doubt for the squad this first half of the season. I believe Anderson will make it, but it'd be a chance including Hargreaves.
But to replace Hargo, should we get an attacking midfielder like Özil or a holding player (also taking into account the uncertainty of Carrick's form)? Not easy. Midfield has to be the major area of concern right now.
I believe we have enough attacking talent for the future, and I'm pretty sure, SAF thinks the same. With Macheda and Welbeck very god prospects, and Rooney with many years left, there's no reason to buy more strikers.
Ozil. But I don't believe Fergie has ever shown his list of players and been told, sorry we have not got the money. What Fergie wants Fergie gets and I trust he knows exactly what is or isnt needed.
sneijder 4 me he is very good marshy australia
Ozil looked good in a tournament. So did Poborsky.
Benzema's next move is likely to be sharing a room with a bloke called Large Larry - or should that be Grand Laurent?
I do get a bit bored of the old 'no value' schtick but money or no money I have to say there does seem to be a lack of players around that make me go 'yes, we must get him' that there maybe has been in previous years - realistic targets, that is. There's no point in trying to sign Messi, for example, whether we can afford him or not.
Redknapp was on TV last night saying that only City seem to be spending money on players just now and if you look at other clubs he has a point.
Now.................who's available on a free?
Oh, nearly forgot - there's a bloke at Real Madrid who I can't see getting too many starts in the same side as CR7 knowing how Mourinho likes to set a team up. Maybe a loan deal?
Name of Kaka, you may remember him.
One signing in midfield will do the job for me. wouldn't mind if we signed someone like benzema but i don't see that as a priority this year. creative midfielder is the one whoever it may be: sneijder of course would be great but highly unlikely inter would be willing to sell, so defour, ozil, ninis are more likely. given he has talked about sending cleverley on loan it is even more likely. I thought we would be selling carrick after the season he had but maybe the "it's my last chance" factor could give him (and anderson) a kick up the preverbial.
1 signing I thought we had 80 million thats without the other players we have already sold.
It will have to be a central midfielder, and with the word 'Value' high on the agenda at the moment it can only be Ozil that United should be looking at. Ozil has expressed his desire to play for United too so for me it's a no brainer.
whos out there for free sol cambell maybe nicky weaver . . . ? the futures great the futures blue .
Rio and Hargreaves should both be left out of the 25 Squad as should Fergies stable boy Owen.
But we all know that Gill is lying, Fergie is lying, and we are skint. How dare the club insult the fans' intelligence!
Funny thing is that a lot of people want the club to speak out, Fergie to speak out, but when they do, they're accused of lying. The script will be similar to the above paragraph.
Look, it's well known the Glazers are bad news, but we should be trusting the man who has made United what it is today. Say what you will about the Glazers, even Gill, but having a go at Fergie (which many posters inevitably will) by calling him a liar or an apologist is not on. The man is a legend, and he deserves better. If he says the money is there, it's there. If for some reason he supports the Glazers (personally I do not know why) there must be a reason behind it. Let's all move on and support the team!
As T&C says, Love United, Hate Nobody.
As for the one player I would sign, I'd leave that to Fergie. He knows much more than I do!!
What a surprise! The comments so far have been mostly positive! Well, leaving Danny, but he doesn't count.
Hope I haven't spoken too soon.