United's top ten targets

November 11, 2003

MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has only a few weeks to focus on his targets as he looks for the perfect player to bolster his strikeforce.

The Reds’ manager isn’t usually a regular spender during the season and he has only bought Andy Cole and Diego Forlan in the winter.

Cole was purchased for a £7m record fee from Newcastle in January 1995 as Ferguson went against his normal plans and attempted to add a new dimension to United’s strike department.

In January 2002 he paid Independiente of Argentina £7.5m for Uruguayan Forlan but the young striker was seen as one for the future as opposed to one to make an instant impact.

Ironically, Forlan’s arrival coincided with Cole’s departure to Blackburn as United’s famed and feared front foursome was broken up.

Fergie was the pioneer of the four-strong senior forward department and now, with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Solskjaer also at Old Trafford, he's set to complete a new look famous foursome.

But who might Fergie buy when the transfer window opens? Here we run the rule over 10 possible targets.

NAME: Aruna Dindane
CLUB: Anderlecht
AGE: 22

PEDIGREE: Fast, short, tricky and technically gifted Dindane hasn’t been a prolific scorer for Anderlecht but he is improving and has scored two Champions League goals this term.

AVAILABILITY: Sir Alex Ferguson watched Aruna, among others, when he took in Celtic’s European match against Anderlecht last week at Parkhead, though having played in Europe this season he might not be that attractive a target for the January window.

NAME: James Beattie
CLUB: Southampton
AGE: 25

PEDIGREE: England international, who is a proven Premiership hitman. Scored against United this season.

AVAILABILITY: His robust style would take a lot of weight off Ruud van Nistelrooy but Saints will fight tooth and nail to keep him.

NAME: Dong Fangzhou
CLUB: Dalian Shide
AGE: 18

PEDIGREE: Scoring goals in China and has already spent a fortnight on trial at Old Trafford in September. His manager claims United have offered more than a million to capture him.

AVAILABILITY: Dalian Shide won’t stand in Fangzhou’s way and have even suggested a long-term loan deal. But with no experience outside his own country the goalscorer won’t be a January priority.

NAME: Didier Drogba
CLUB: Marseille
AGE: 25

PEDIGREE: Tall, pacy striker with an excellent first touch. Exploded onto the French scene last term with Guingamp when he became third top scorer in the country with 17 goals in 34 matches. Current Champions League top scorer with five goals from four matches.

AVAILABILITY: The Ivory Coast international only joined Marseille in the summer on a five-year contract and if he were to leave Milan and Porto would enter a bidding war.

NAME: Andrei Shevchenko
CLUB: AC Milan
AGE: 26

PEDIGREE: The Ukraine bullet has an impressive Serie A strike-rate and 24 Champions League goals in 48 appearances for Milan and Dynamo Kiev. Scored penalty shoot-out clincher in last May’s European Cup final at Old Trafford against Juventus.

AVAILABILITY: United allegedly had a summer offer rejected by Milan. Shevchenko also apparently has the most complicated contract in world football and would also be cup tied in Europe this season.

NAME: Jermain Defoe
CLUB: West Ham
AGE: 21

PEDIGREE: A future England international, Defoe was West Ham's best player last season and has started life well in Divisoon One - scoring 11 times already.

AVAILABILITY: West Ham are going for immediate promotion and need their most prized asset. But a £10m bid from the Reds could be too good an offer for the Londoners to turn down.

NAME: Robert Earnshaw
CLUB: Cardiff City
AGE: 22

PEDIGREE: Scored 35 goals for Cardiff last season to create a new club record. Is a Welsh full international and currently leads the First Division scoring stakes with 20 goals in league and cup.

AVAILABILITY: Experienced Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence reckons the exciting youngster is close to being a Premiership player, and it would be hard for the Welsh club to turn down a concrete offer. His complete lack of top flight experience may work against him.

NAME: Luis Fabiano
CLUB: Sao Paulo
AGE: 23

PEDIGREE: Had a brief spell at Roma in Serie A but returned to Brazil. Making a reputation again as a dangerous goalscorer.

AVAILABILITY: AC Milan are also reported to have had scouts monitoring him but Sao Paulo president Marcleo Portugal Gouvea says he’s desperate to keep his star. United have an alliance with the South American club so they already have a foothold – and he would be free to play in European competition.

NAME: Alan Smith
CLUB: Leeds United
AGE: 23

PEDIGREE: The feisty goalscorer is said to be a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson’s, who could channel the England international's aggresive style.

AVAILABILITY: Leeds are strapped for cash and facing the prospect of relegation would need more money to cushion that blow. Fervent Leeds fan Smith has so far pledged loyalty to Elland Road during the Yorkshire club’s troubled times, but his patience could be wearing thin.

NAME: Louis Saha
CLUB: Fulham
AGE: 25

PEDIGREE: Saha is only just starting to show his full potential after two years spent adapting to the Premiership. The French striker fired 32 goals as the Cottagers sealed promotion in 2001 and has the talent to be a regular scorer in the top flight.

AVAILABILITY: Fulham would be reluctant sellers, but like most clubs would find the lure of cold hard cash too good to turn down. Seven million would be enough to force Fulham's hand, but Ferguson may feel that the money would be better spent elsewhere.

| Submit Comments | Comments (196) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

james, Wombwell, Barnsley (11/11/2003 at 11:44)

Alan Smith would be a good buy. He is a Keane in the making. Also he will be available cheap, as Leeds are strapped for cash.

GAZ, north stand (11/11/2003 at 12:54)

Some very good players on this list but i would love to see two strikers come in because regardless of what you state in your story it is obvious that Ole is now classed as a right midfielder and rightly so after his fantastic performances out there last year. So the two would have to be Defoe because he is young,english, proven in the premiership and is obviously a natural goalscorer who will go onto be the top english striker (in front of owen who is slightly overrated to say the least). The crown jewel would be Shevchenko though who is one of the top five strikers in the world and would be perfect partner for RVN as he runs the channels brilliantly very similar to Henry and he is of cause proved at every level going.

Chris Blantern, Manchester (11/11/2003 at 14:09)

Would love to see Schevencko but not sure how realistic that would be and even if we where to get him think it is more likely to be in the summer. Think a good option we should go for now is Okocha. He is great player is'nt cup tied and could play just behind Van Nis. Should buy Okocha in Jan and then a pacy direct forward like Schenvencko or Anelka in the summer as well as Van der Vaart. These are the sort of signings we should go for if we truly want to compete for the CL.

Jericho, Failsworth (11/11/2003 at 14:22)

I like the call for Okocha. He's possibly the player United thought they had in Forlan- ie/ shoots from range, technically very gifted, experience at a high level. I doubt Bolton would be prepared to let him go without silly money being offered though.

Chris Blantern, Manchester (11/11/2003 at 16:26)

Jericho think we could probably get Okocha for under B#5m this would leave plenty of money to buy a world class striker such as Schenvencko in the summer especially with all the money we made from the sales of Beckham and Veron this summer. Okocha would be a great addition he could play behind a lone striker and also anywhere across midfield he would be a great addition to the squad.
Got the feeling though that Fergie won't buy anyway in Jan or worse still some South American than can't adapt to the Premiership (eg veron, Forlan) and we waste another B#10 million. Anyone else agree with me and Jericho on Okocha?

Jericho, Failsworth (11/11/2003 at 16:48)

I think we'd all like to see players like Schevchenko, Zidane etc at United, but in reality I think Uniteds strategy is more geared towards our youth team, and buying young players who are on the way up (like Ruud, Keano etc), not "big name" expensive players who are already at big clubs. Our recent summer signings would seem to support this.

Declan, Dublin (11/11/2003 at 17:18)

Alot of names being thrown about. My opinions would be as follows

Defoe: Will definitely make the grade and is has the potential to be a Man U player in the future. I think I could say the same about Earnshaw personally I feel Defoe would be a better bet (thought not worth 10million )

Shevchecko/Veiri: World Class no doubt. We'll never see either at OT though. Cost to much and niether have required passion to play for us. and I say this as a big Inter fan.

Fabiano: Failed in Italy with Roma (not given many chances though) big gamble, wont happened unless a loan transfer could be organised which I doubt.

My more realistic targets while not all forwards would open up our attacking options.
Van Derr Vaart- exceptional talent supposedly dreams of Barca though (silly boy)
Reyes( seville)- the next big thing. more people will know about him since he destroyed madrid but this lad is one in a million

A player I havent heard mentioned anywhere is Alvaro Recoba. He hasnt fulfilled his amazing ability in Italy
(remember Henry, Viera, Davids with AC) Inter are in turmoil they could be willing to cash in as he is their highest paid player. personally I think would be perfect for Ruud. Also Martin Ferguson always attend inter matchs when in Italy.......

Phil Andrews, Cornwall (11/11/2003 at 19:20)

Still trying to buy your way to success I see. It's not going to work this year, someone else got there before you. COME ON YOU BLUES - and I don't mean City. Keep Hoping.

Mark, Belfast (11/11/2003 at 19:49)

Can't see Smith coming (Leeds), or Fabiano (11 mill is too much for an unproven South American). Fangzhou might be 'one for the future' (i.e. not for now), and good for commercial expansion. Shevchenko would be excellent, but maybe unrealistic - yet worth a go. Would be happy with Saha. Or Drogba, who looks like the ideal Premiership forward and it'd be nice to have one player in the team who can actually head the ball (could only happen, I think, if Marseille don't get through the group phase of CL). Agree about Okocha, except the time to have got him was last summer, before Fergie overloaded the midfield. Certainly think we should be making moves in the transfer market this January. Apart from the fact we need players for the second half of the season, we might also catch rival bidders by surprise. The money's available right now, and if we wait to the summer we're likely to end up in one bidding war after another, and experience teaches that, when that happens, we nearly always bottle it. Also, don't think players being cuptied for the CL is all that critical, since winning the Premiership this season will be harder than ever.

colin, canada (11/11/2003 at 21:51)

I like Okocha, Smith and Defoe. All would play well with Ruud and also give him a rest. Let's stick with Local Talent who know the league and would fit with United in terms of work rate.
I'm a big fan of Bellamy. Terrific desire.

George, Athens (11/11/2003 at 22:59)

Andrei Shevchenko is the man but i have doubts if Milan is keen to sell him. I Like a lot Andriano from Parma but is similar to Shevchenko, because Inter has the rights. Defoe is a great prospect for now and also for the future,Alan Smith is a player I hate because is a Leeds player. The Brazilian Luis Fabiano is a top class but he is going to need time to adapt to the team. I have trust in sir Alex and i am just waiting to see his options...Don't worry, he knows what the team needs...

Bambang, Jonathan, Indonesia (12/11/2003 at 10:04)

Andrei Savchenko would be our dream, as he might be the one that can bring another treble for MU, but Defoe would be ok for future star. However, why don't Fergie consider Barca's young talented striker Javier Savilla?

tom, manchester (12/11/2003 at 10:07)

defoe and okocha would be excellent signings, but we should have bought them in the summer. saha is probably the most likely xmas purchase, but i dont see fergie buying anybody to be honest.

owen/henry/anelka will be the target next summer, but we'll probably fail with all 3 and buy some more central midfielders instead...

roar, norway (12/11/2003 at 10:35)

defoe and smith would be my favorite signings, to young and promising players WITH Premiership experience, and english.
But I would also like a new defender, and VanBuyten from Marseille would suite United I think. We are very short in defence, and with Rio out for how long... I think a defender would be the highest priority. But we soon get Wesly back, and he plays like he's newer been injured, he doesn't need machpractise.

Keke, London (12/11/2003 at 10:47)

Only two words to say on the matter. Michael Owen

Fredrik Lake, Stockholm (12/11/2003 at 11:03)

I agree with Mark. Scheva/Henry/Owen/Vieri are all out of the question. Defoe/Smith/Saha/Earnshaw are not good enough. Drogba would be an interesting player but would Marseilles sell? Don't think so. I would definately go for Fernando Torres. I don't think Atletico would sell Torres but he's the best prospect around. What a talent. Give it a try.

Declan, DUblin (12/11/2003 at 11:32)

Im my opinion Torres isnt half the player Reyes is. To be honest I dont think we'll get either. Both are tied down by 5-7 year contracts with ridiculous release fees. As for Micheal Owen u'll see Martin Keown play for Utd before Owen does!!! Someone earlier mentioned Bellemy. I know Fergie was a keen admirer but his temperament and reoccurring injuries have ruined any chances of him coming to OT even though I reckon he would have been an excellent addition. One thing that no one has mentioned is the very likely outcome of no one being brought in and promoting from within????????????The talent is certainly there but maybe 6-12 months away from being ready for premiership/europe.

Steven, Bedford (12/11/2003 at 16:20)

I don't think SAF will have any problems buying in january. Last season he wanted to add Bellion, the season before he wanted Di Canio. So i think if the right player is their Fergie will buy him. I think United should make a bid for Alan Smith, something between B#5-7 million. They owe us for how much we had to pay for Rio. If not him then Defoe, but 10 millon is too much. Again B#5-7 million won't be that bad. Defoe might be right for SAF, as he is young, english and he won't expect to play every game. He will be able to keep him on the bench if needed without any problems. Defoe is in the mould of Ian wright, don't let the Gunners take this one. He will learn of RVN and solskjear, and he can play in europe. If Fergie doesn't buy anyone then in the summer he should move for Robben or Van der vaart, a dutch strikeforse is what we need, not kluivert though, he lacks ambition.

colin, canada (12/11/2003 at 18:54)

If Gary Neville goes down, who covers for him. If we lose Ruud, who takes his place.
I think SAF has to look beyond who is cup tied and try and retain the premiership.
Right now he doesn't have the horses to do either but Chelsea do.
We have to be more of a threat offensively to win the CL and Premiership so we must buy a top notch striker. Right now you mark Ruud out of the game and we are not the threat we were with Cole and Yorke and Teddy.
We are very much a contain and hit them on the break type of team instead of the '99 reds that had them on their heels until they caved.
We have tons of pace, lets add more fire power.
Cheers.

MT, London (13/11/2003 at 00:07)

Let us put this in the context of the club's financial constraints. After the expenses, the club was left with a 19.5m net profit to spend for year 03/04 (which includes January and Summer transfer windows). 2m has already been spent on Bellion, so unless players are sold to part finance new purchases, only a maximum of 17.5m is at SAF's disposal. SAF will not wish to spend much of this allocation in January and he will also wait to see the outcome of the Rio's impending judgment by FA.

Yeash, Mauritius, Indian Ocean (13/11/2003 at 05:39)

I would like to start by saying that it is highly unlikely that Man United will buy a player in January. But things may change depending on the Rio Ferdinand case outcome. If Rio is handed a big ban then yes Man United will bring in a central defender. Now who can that player be?First in my list is Daniel Van Buyten.I seen him play a couple of times and believe me he can defend AND score goals. He is a giant defender and such a good header of the ball. However the only problem is that he will be cup tied for CL. Other defenders in my list would include: Metzelder,Lucio,Puyol,Mexes,Hofland,Beto,Chivu,Escude,Dawson

Andi, Oz (13/11/2003 at 07:47)

Go for Alan Smith. Look at him battle when others at Leeds have fallen (eg Viduka). The type of player SAF loves. Too many red cards? Well... Cantona and Keane were the same... So what's the fuss? He may be Leeds-born, but surely his patience is at the limit after seeing so many teammates behaving indifferently towards their cause(of relegation). And nothing in football in certain. So go for Smith.

Taz Hamid, Frankfurt, Germany (13/11/2003 at 12:30)

Phil from Cornwall get the pointy hat with a large 'D' on it and stand in the corner. You are cleary a buffoon! You admonish Reds for trying to buy their was to succes and then align yourself with...CHELSEA!!!!

As for the debate on who Fergie should bring in, we get a new and proven player next month called Solskjaer I believe plus it's time Bellion was given run out in the like sof the League Cup and perhaps the remaining CL games. All the proven strikers in Europe that might enhance the team and cup-tied. The likes of Beattie/Smith/Defoe might be worth a punt but none are going to win the CL for you. Has to be faced. As for this nonense about going for Henry or Owen next year. Only place those boys are going (IF they move and it's a big IF) is Real Madrid or heaven forbid, Chelsea. We can't afford 'em.

AG, Blackpool (13/11/2003 at 14:20)

Some interesting comments. I think Defoe is likely, and this Chinese lad Fangzhou a certainty. These are both for the future though. I agree that Shevchenko would be the fan's choice but it is unlikely to happen. Vieri is not the player we want now - a couple of years ago yes, but not now. Smith is a player I like, but he is a die hard fan and I think he will only be available and willing in the summer when Leeds get relegated! Forget Owen - highly unlikely, he'll probably end up at Real. I'm hoping that Saha isn't signed - he is talented but inconsistent and has hardly set the PL alight. One name that I am surprised is not in any of the posts so far is that of Djibril Cisse. He is out of contract in the summer and the Auxerre boss Guy Roux has been quoted as saying he is likely to move on. By all accounts he could be available for a couple of million in January. He is quick, strong and has a proven goalscoring record. Liverpool have a long standing interest in him, and Arsenal have been linked in the past, so we need to be on our toes. I liked the list of defenders earlier too - someone plays a lot of Championship Manager - I'd agree with any of them. I'd also add Trabelsi and Terry to the list. I know we'll never get Terry but it couldn't hurt to ask! If we do sign anyone in January, it should be with the PL in mind. If we can sign someone who is also available to play in Europe then that is a bonus. Our squad needs strengthening, and we have enough players registered for Europe to succeed, but not if they are playing every game in the PL as well!!

Richie, Dublin (13/11/2003 at 14:25)

Why not Owen? It looks like he will have to leave to fulfil his potential. Can't see Madrid buying him unless they let Ronaldo go (then we'd step in for him...the two Ronnies !) as selling Raul is a no-no.

Only other clubs that would tempt Owen would be Milan, Barca, Juve, Inter or Chelsea.
We should do what Madrid do and go for the best players regardless of who they play with. He's young, proven in the Premiership, hungry and pacy -fits all the criteria we need in a new striker. And he ain't gonna win the CL with Liverpool...
Campbell and Figo have set big precedents....go for Owen.

()

Report

Manchester United