Eidur wants to be a Red

May 04, 2006

CHELSEA'S out- of-favour striker Eidur Gudjohnsen wants to come to United.

It is understood that Gudjohnsen has held informal talks over his future at Stamford Bridge and the two parties are due to sit down again in the next fortnight.

Tottenham are being linked with the striker as well but United would be his choice of future employer.

Sir Alex Ferguson values players who can play in more than one role and Gudjohnsen's midfield capabilities as well as his ability to fill a berth in a two-pronged attack would make him a versatile addition to the Reds squad.

Gudjohnsen moved to Stamford Bridge from Bolton for é5m in 2000 after two years at Wanderers.

His Chelsea strike-rate has been good with 78 goals from 177 matches.

Opportunity

However, though he played against Blackburn on Tuesday night at Ewood Park, the Icelandic international has only started 16 games for Jose Mourinho and has been replaced in 10 of them scoring just three goals.

Gudjohnsen is frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunity and the Reds will be monitoring the situation.

The question mark over Ruud van Nistelrooy leaves Fergie needing a back-up plan and Gudjohnsen's adaptability could make him a target.

Fergie has Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha as the main hitmen if van Nistelrooy does depart while Ole Solskjaer and 19-year-old Giuseppe Rossi provide other options.

But there would still be a vacancy for a player of Gudjohnsen's versatility.

With the bulk of the United manager's transfer kitty earmarked for the problem midfield department there would be little cash left over for a major import up front.

If van Nistelrooy were to go, that could bring in around é10m and 27-year-old Gudjohnsen could be prised from Chelsea for about é4m, leaving more money for Ferguson to bolster his engine room.

Should United go after Gudjohnson? Have your say.

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ddd, ddd (04/05/2006 at 09:24)

Well he's finished so he may as well go to UTD for a final payday...they love a has been

Moston, Manchester (04/05/2006 at 09:26)

Another non-story

Anthony, Wigan (04/05/2006 at 09:35)

??4m would be a bargain for a player of this quality.

I thi Gudjohnsen is extremely underrated and his strength and football qualities would strengthen our squad further.

Sign him!

steve, Glossop (04/05/2006 at 09:36)

Yeh I'd take him he's a great player. Better 6yrs late than never cos he's always wanted to play for us presumably Martin saw him play alot. Trouble is I doubt Chelski would sell to us.

ice, malta (04/05/2006 at 09:36)

i dnt know how old he is but i think he'd make a good addition to the squad especially as it seems likely that ruud will be leavin...i dnt think solskjaer has many games left in him and i think his contract was extended out of sentiment rather than out of ability while rossi is jus startin to learn the ropes and with gudjonhsen we will be able to rest rooney occasionally without the consequence of droppin points..his ability to play on the wings wud also be an asset

Kevin, Tralee, Eire (04/05/2006 at 09:40)

The guy would be of great benefit to the team, he has a decent strike rate & as the article stated he can play an attacking link role. I have serious reservations as to whether or not Rooney will be available for the start of the season so undoubtedly a great buy imo. The big question is would chelskov sell him to us? The answer would have to be a definite no. Unless there is some kind of swap deal involving Obi Mikel brewing.

Stephen Kwan, Singapore (04/05/2006 at 09:45)

I guess SAF shall sell RVN and get Gudjohnsen. I've always been an admirer of him. RVN sucks..

mike, lancashire (04/05/2006 at 09:47)

Don't we have Alan Smith as a fourth striker, surely no-one expects him to return to central midfield next season. If he does we won't have splashed out on the central midfield reinforcements we need.

Jacklim, Singapore (04/05/2006 at 10:00)

There are alot of good player out there and even better than gudjohnsen.
If van nistelrooy leaves and bring in 10m extra cash i hope Fergie will think wisely rather spend abit more to buy a better player than buying a rubbish from chelsea

Lee, Heywood (04/05/2006 at 10:04)

Signing Gudjhonsen would be a great start as he could play up front or in the Scholes role in CM. He is a player I have always rated and at 4mil a bargain. I expect Ruud to leave he looks like he is leaving and so does SAF. Taking away his goals this season and just judging on his peerformances in games then I would have to say we wouldnt miss him and the team on the whole would have the potential to score more. Diarra and Mikel to finish us off??

Richard Burns, Denton, Manchester (04/05/2006 at 10:12)

It would be a shame if he went to the scum. I like him, if he signed i would ahve to hate him. Better get his picture ready on the dartboard then...CTID

Lone Ranger, Manchester (04/05/2006 at 10:19)

very good player. We missed out on him 5 or 6 years ago as too injury prone apparently. 4 million is nothing for quality and would be a step up on recent buys.

Gaz, North Stand (04/05/2006 at 10:20)

Not sure about this although i do rate him as a player even if ruud leaves we would be left with rooney, saha, rossi, smith and ole as options up top surely people are not thinking smiths future still lies in midfield. Unless he is thinking of playing eidur from a wide role alla Ole and i suppose his versatility would be a plus but then ole and smith are also versatile so maybe we should be looking for specialists. More intetrested in the story this morning we are to make a move for carrick who i think would be a great buy and supposdly they want to team him up with gattuso in the centre and both players combined fee would be the same as diarra personally it looks like better business to me.

Mick, Dublin (04/05/2006 at 10:21)

He's a class act and would improve any team. His best performance's for Chelsea have been in an advanced midfield position (most notably against Barca) making him a prfect addition to our squad. Chelsea won't want to sell him but do they have any choice? I'm fairly sure in this post-Bosman era a club can't force a player to sit out his contract if he wants a move. Any contract lawyers out there?

Lone Ranger, Princess Street (04/05/2006 at 10:27)

agree completely Gaz. Obviously you are not the bloke on row 26 of the 2nd tier talking this much sense.

Sparky, Salford (04/05/2006 at 10:29)

I'm inclined to agree with Gaz. Carrick is a class act and Gattuso would improve us too. I haven't championed Gattuso much but there is no denying he is quality and the fee for Diarra will be ridiculous. Gudjohnsen would be an excellent replacement for Ruud and the manger will have money left over. I would love to see Aaron Lennon at OT.

Dwaine B, Manc (04/05/2006 at 10:47)

Gudjohnsen for ??4m? Why the heck not?! He's a quality versitile player. Even though midfield is our priority, he would still be a great edition to the squad.

Lee, Heywood (04/05/2006 at 10:48)

Gaz I think Smiths future lies away from OT. He is simply not good enough in either CF or CM. Carrick I like but is a gamble simply because he is unproven at the highest level. Sure if Diarra is to cost 24 million then we leave him alone but Chelski wont be around to pay that and if the player wants to join us they will have to take the 15 million we offer. Diarra is a player that IS proven at the highest level so for me less of a gamble. Gattusso is good but limited although I have heard rumours that this is a done deal. I would prefer Kaka from AC but cant we all dream! Realistically I think on this thread that Eidur could do the Scholes job for us with a Diarra or Gattusso next to him. Carrick could also do this job but would be expensive and unproven. Hopefully SAF gets this right. I expect Ruud out along with Fortune and possibly Richardson. With 2/3 coming in. As an optimist I am still hopeful that Mikel will eventually arrive and if this is the case we would only need one CM in Diarra and then Eidur would be a good cheap option if there is any truth to this story. Personally I cant wait for the season to end then we have the World Cup to look forward to and we can get some idea of next season with the players we manage to sign.

Manc Abroad, OT (04/05/2006 at 11:08)

Why would he come to us ? His main gripe is not playing enough, so why swap one bench for another ? I think Blackburn will be favourites to sign him, as they can guarantee him first team football.

Farai, Harare (04/05/2006 at 11:12)

Someone is talking sense now.Just sign him.Remember the club has done so well from cheap bargains like this.

Duncan, London (04/05/2006 at 11:24)

I would love to have him he always reminded me of a more mobile version of Sherringham with the same vision and intelligent passing. He can sit behind Saha or Rooney where their mobility and intelligence can make the most of his through balls. Ideally wouldve liked an out and out finisher as well. Carrick interests me as well - a pairing of him and Gattuso would provide a good mixture of passing and much needed spirit and fight in the engine room. Gattuso's vast European experience would also come in very handy. I don't think I could handle watching another game with O'Shea making defensive clearances from midfield.

Snorri, Iceland (04/05/2006 at 11:26)

As an Icelandic Man Utd fan, I have to admit, there is NOTHING I'd like to see more than Ei??ur in a Utd shirt.

And - he is perfect for Utd, with his style of play he should easily be integrated into the team and I think he could be an excellent addition. His versatility however, is what's best about him.

If he signs then I'm buying a shirt with his name and number on the very day, if not hour.

SAF: Give us Ei??ur!

Champions, London (04/05/2006 at 11:37)

Eidur to man.u??? you're having a laugh! Eidur is loyal, he loves Chelsea, and would not join you lot (he has ambition) I can see him leaving us, but really hope he doesn't, he is a class act

Alan, Milton Keynes (04/05/2006 at 11:47)

Lets face it, Cjelski wouldn't sell their tea lady to Man Utd if they thought it might in anyway strengthen us. To be fair i think we would do the same. We wouldn't even have sold them Bellion.

I really can't see this happening. He is a top player though wasting away on the Chelsea bench like SWP. I think SWP has played so few games that Aaron Lennon should go to the WC instead.

steve, Glossop (04/05/2006 at 11:49)

Lee I agree about Smith. How much would he bring in now anyone?

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