Manchester United are in talks to sign Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne.
The Premier League champions have been negotiating with the Championship side over the last 72 hours in a bid to tie up a £3m deal.
But talks have stalled over when Clyne – who was so impressive in Palace’s shock Carling Cup quarter-final win over United in November – would complete a move to Old Trafford.
Palace manager, Dougie Freedman, does not want to lose his prize asset before the end of the season – particularly with his team on the verge of reaching a Wembley final.
But with the 20-year-old out of contract in the summer, he has reluctantly accepted that he won’t be able to keep hold of the highly-rated right back.
Palace know they will be in line for a payout, which will be determined by a tribunal, even if Clyne does leave because he is under 21.
They would be able to expect a figure in the region of £3m even if they decide to let his contract run down.
United do not want to take the risk of other clubs competing for the signature of a player they had tracked even before his outstanding display at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Palace chairman, Steve Parish, believes he could get a higher price for Clyne if other suitors join the bidding.
He is pushing hard to secure a deal similar to the one that took Chris Smalling from Fulham to United two years ago.
The England defender was signed for £10m in January 2010, but was allowed to remain at Craven Cottage until the end of the season.
Right back has become an increasing concern to Ferguson since the retirement of Gary Neville last season.
Brazilian twins, Rafael and Fabio, have suffered with injury for much of the campaign, while there are still doubts as to whether either can be the long-term solution at full back.
This season Smalling, Phil Jones and even Antonio Valencia have been played out of position on the right of defence.
Clyne perfectly fits into Ferguson’s policy of seeking the brightest British talents to secure the future of United even after he retires.
He has spent a combined £44m on Englishmen in Smalling, Jones and Ashley Young in the last two years, with Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley also becoming increasingly important figures at the club.
He also remains interested in Everton’s England midfielder, Jack Rodwell, who is a potential summer target.
What do you think? Have your say.
Manchester United in talks to sign Crystal Palace star Nathaniel Clyne
January 21, 2012
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Great news. A solid rightback has been missing for a while, with Rafael injured most of the time. What better way to fill the position than with an outstanding British talent. This should free up Smalling to keep playing as a central defender, and Jones can be placed in midfield. I firmly believe Jones can fill the gap that has been there since Roy Keane left.
Though now I said it, probably SAF will not buy this bloke, play Jones at rightback, and place Rafael in midfield...
Very promising player, glowing reports from anyone who has managed him, 20 years old as well would certainly be a very good signing with us being so short in the RB department.
Would be typical of Fergie to move for a player who has had an outstanding game against us.
"They would be able to expect a figure in the region of £3m even if they decide to let his contract run down."
How come Palace would be able to expect three million quid, yet almost every article that suggests that Morrison will be off in the summer reckons we'll be looking at around £300k in compensation? I doubt they've spent 10 times more developing Clyne than United have spent developing Morrison.
Is there some kind of formula involved in coming up with these compensation amounts? Or do all the papers just pluck these figures out of their a***s?
yes would be a nice buy, and great to see a team in the premiership that is investing in english talent!!!!
Raphael and Fabio are brilliant players United have also got back Richie delaet would be nice to see Alex getting more involved with signing a midfielder not Modric
For goodnes graciouses sake STAY CLEAR OF RODWEL!!! He is awful. He has very low energy for a young player, he's neither a play maker or a good defensive midfielder. And on top of it all he is very injury prone for a young man, which is the last thing we need. I have said for 2 or 3 years on here that Rodwell and Jordan Henderson are only highly rated by Everton and Sunderland so they can get top brass for them, and I'm correct. It is no surprise to me tht Henderson looks hopeless for Liverpool. Barclay is the young midfielder at Everton we should be looking at, he is a million miles better than Rodwell. Leon Osman gets picked in front of Rodwell, which should tell you something. Dont let Moyes con you Fergie.
3m sounds good 2 me.. another english youngster
An Evening News exclusive?!? A pleasant surprise!
I personally thinks this summer its time to bring in hungry young players and its time to get rid of the average players we have and the players who havent been performing for 12-18months and are just surviving on reputation and experience which doesnt win games
The main culprats for me are evra and ferdinand. Both have been average @ best and are gettin on and just like it happend to people like bruce, pallister and Irwin there comes a time when you cant do it anymore and this is the case for evra and ferdinand. Rio more so who hasnt the pace to make up for his mistakes anymore and is on 120k a week and injured for half of the season.
More importantly weve Smalling and jones who are center backs and our future aswell as vidic and evans is good enough to be 4th choice
If we get clyne and with the versatility our defenders have i feel well only need a leftback and our defence will be sorted for years to come;
Rafael.........jones........vidic........new leftback
Clyne........Smalling.....evans...........fabio
...........................fryers
I answered another thread regarding Rodders. Too injury prone we have enough of our own to get fit. I don't care if he is the best in the world if you can only get half a season out of him or less.
Remember Fargo? Cargo? Largo? Margo? Er who was it again. Canadian chappie from Germany.
im a palace fan, your getting an absolute bargain for £3 mill, nothing like him out there! Il be gutted to see him leave, but happy for him, and the club that united are buying one of OUR youngsters.
What a waste of a promising talent if he joins the Trafford Town Berties.
If signed in January, it is highly unlikely he will be played too often in the title run-in, so I hope the club don't get into a dutch auction for his services. If the guy wants to come, he'll come whoever else comes calling in the summer so Palace's threat that they may get more if they wait should be treated with disdain. If Clyne is out of contract in the summer, Palace have very little bargaining chips and David Gill needs to recognise this in his transfer talks. As with other posters, I'm not sure how Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba can leave for peanuts but Clyne could cost several million.
You really are becoming the joke of jokes. For 3m please drop me out, you are a total lost cause. I have said it once i have said it twice now for a third time man city will be between 7-11 points clear by valentines day please reds copy and paste this and get back to me on the 15th feb thanks and ta ta for now.
Yes the twins are injury prone, could it possibly be the fact they play with great courage, enthusiasm, character and skill and never ever shirk the tackle that many would (Gibson and Carrick to name but two). Smalling was excellent in the centre today and Jones will probably be his natural long term partner, so cover at right back is no bad thing.