Sir Alex Ferguson says that Manchester United will target just one transfer this summer, while failing to replace Ben Foster who will join Birmingham City for £6 million this week. Speaking in New York, Ferguson effectively confirmed a second summer of regression with United’s transfer market activity highly restricted.
Following the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez last summer, Sir Alex brought in Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia as the close season’s only senior signings.
With youngsters Javier Hernandéz and Chris Smalling joining United for pre-season training, Ferguson says there will again be no major rebuilding of his squad this summer.
“In the market today it’s very, very difficult and the structure of our squad is good in terms of ages, the balance, the numbers and there’s a lot of good young players,” the United boss told the press in New York today while promoting the club’s forthcoming tour of North America.
“Sometimes you have to trust in all the development of the last few years and I’m going to stick with that, or most of it.
“There may be one signing and maybe we’d like to get a good player to the club, of course, but it’s not easy in the present day climate and I’ve nothing definite to tell you because we’re still assessing whoever’s available and the difficulties in terms of who you’d bring in.”
Ferguson also confirmed that United will not purchase a goalkeeper this summer, with the club previously linked to moves for Hugo Lloris, Igor Akinfeev and Manuel Neuer.
“When we decided to let Ben (Foster) go, we were in the process of letting a good young goalkeeper, Ben Amos, go out on loan,” Ferguson said.
“He’s in the England Under-21 team but we can only accommodate three goalkeepers. So when the situation with Ben’s future at Manchester United came into it and we agreed to let him go, we stopped Ben Amos from going on loan.
“He will now be our third goalkeeper, he’s very talented and has a good future ahead of him.”
Amos spent part of last season on loan at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former club Molde in Norway, appearing in eight league matches, although the 20-year-old ‘keeper has not always held on to his first team place.
Unless Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak suffer injury Amos’ development will be limited to the reserves next season.
Sitting alongside Ferguson in New York, club ceo David Gill once again claimed that Ferguson has money to spend but that new Premier League squad rules limits potential activity.
From August the Premier League restricts squads to a 25-man limit, which must include eight home-grown players. Those players under-21 do not count towards the squad limit.
Strange then that United already has 12 home-grown players in the probable squad for 2010/11 and just 23 players likely to fall inside the Premier League limit. That is without the potential departures of under-performing squad members such as Anderson, Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov.
Although Gill reiterated the board’s stance that United’s £716.5 million corporate debt is serviceable few fans will believe the United chief. The bond interest payments total more than £45 million per season, while the Glazers will take at least £70 million from United’s cash reserves this summer as the family pays down Payment-in-Kind debt.
“We easily can meet those interest payments,” Gill claimed.
“We’re very confident the business model we have in place will be secure and will ensure the club can continue to compete at the top of football for many years to come.”
Many United supporters will wonder how that Gill can make that assurance with no investment in the playing squad.
This 23/25 rule will change alot of big clubs transfer dealings this summer and without doubt future sigings.
I agree to a certain extent with the young players that are breaking through and the recent transfer dealings of younger players will create good stead for this coming campaighn and future season BUT I still think that the possibility of signing a major player will be to hard to turn down,depends on price and the player (age too),as fergie has rightly mentioned.
Like I said above though,although I agree with the prinicables of the quotes I cant help but feel slightly sceptical of our transfer funds,but maybe this is a classic “smokes screen” mind game effect being played towards us fans and without doubt the media.
IF not then I can forsee many United fans feel a slight twinge of disapointment.
One player that’d be available and probably interested in a move? Kaka, if not Gourcuff.
I may be in the minority on this but I am not overly disappointed by this news.
If I had to wager, I bet we make a signing for an attacking player before the World Cup starts. Whether that player be from midfeld or to partner Rooney upfront.
It will be someone who the media has not come up with yet.
“Many United supporters will wonder how that Gill can make that assurance with no investment in the playing squad.”
Cry much? United have already bought 2 players.
this is just pathetic!
whoever doesnt see that we need at least a new midfielder and a striker is just plain DELUDED!!!
our midfield is shocking,seeing that we have a player who hasnt played for 19 months,a player who every time gets the ball loses it (carrick),a player who just cnt cut it (ando) and a player who shoots even frm 60 yrds wen he gets it (gibbo)
only have fletch,and scholesy,tho hes gettin 1 yr older!
let me not strt on berba in an attaking point of view!
even rooney said we need a striker!!
fergie plz get us a midfielder at least!! we r crying out for one!!
PLEASEEEE!!
What is he supposed to say? Is it good negotiating policy to go out and say we are going to sign two major players this summer. Before the Glazers we always complained about how United always had to pay a premium on players. Well, if Sir Alex were to say how many players we were going to sign, don’t you think that premium would increase even more?
Moreover, I agree with Sir Alex that prices have been inflated by Real Madrid and the sugar daddies of the Bitters and the likes.
Just because we spend we don’t have to be successful (Veron, springs to mind). If we spend with caution and thoughtfulness, we increase the probability of signing players that will come through for us.
Last summer there was ‘no value’ in the market, this summer the market is ‘very very difficult’. It is only very difficult because the glazers are looting all the money. Boycott now, short term pain for long term gain. LUHG
Our 2 best players Rooney and Evra, are being flogged to death, playing virtually every game, which increases the risk of injury. VDS, Neville, Scholes and Giggs are on their last legs (literally). Could end up needing to replace half the team. Chelsea, City will be laughing their socks off as United, Liverpool and Arsenal fall further and further behind.
How utterly depressing. Although, it may be a shrewd move for Fergie to say we’re not in the market for a ‘keeper to avoid getting into phony bidding wars with the likes of Arsenal or City and hiking the price. We definitely need a creative midfielder, though and I’d choose that over a stopper any day
I might understand Fergie’s comments if he’s doing this to get a better deal – as Yergen says. But saying we’re not spending is not going to do much for the season ticket sales is it? So he has to tread a fine line here. If we’re honest we will admit we were outplayed by Chelsea at OT and deserved to lose despite that tosser of a linesman. We need a midfield that can compete with them and not get bullied. Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Gibbo – might look good against the lesser teams, but we need to be better than Chelsea, 2nd is no good. We have to get rid of the Yanks if we’re ever gong to be a force in the transfer market again – but that could be years even after the Yanks go – if they ever do. I’m depressing myself here.
Perhaps, while we’re on the US tour, Fergie is harbouring secret hopes of discovering a young Yankie Ronaldo-type mesmorising Neville.
Yes, dream on lads.
That sort only comes round once in a lifetime..
well twice if you’re owd as me going back to Bestie.
I hope this is straight out of Fergie’s mind games arsenal and he is lining up a creative midfield player. This type of player was sorely missed in the just concluded season. Not to mention a striker to share the goal burden.
Imo, a left winger (Nani has been much better on the right wing), accomplished striker, creative midfielder and goalie are required.
The stuff of pipe dreams I accept.
If we need to improve our midfield then getting Silva and Cole J if probably the best case scenario. Silva for 20-25 mill and Cole on a Bosman.
Ed, no money, no honey. Glazers found a very smart way to make money without doing anything. I’m still trying to understand what risk they have taken. (in my opinion none). They have already found ways to milk the club cash by charging whatever service seems legitimate.SAF is trying to sell us the depth and faith to young blood (but he was very eager to sign one more year all the old guard). Unfortunately for MANUTD when Glazers took over global economy was booming (and they found easily financial backing) while any attempt today would have been much more difficult.I don’t want to sound negative or lose faith to SAF abilities but it seems that he has can’t attract big names (regardless the reason). I hope i proved wrong.
I dont think any one can question fergie..
just that manutd need a signing just to freshen things up..either a attacking CM or a forward.
And remember Hargreaves coming back will be a huge bonus!
So i guess this is how manutd will line up in europe next season-
VDS
Rafael rio vidic evra
fletcher hargreaves
nani (new signing) valencia
Rooney
Why are you so sure Hargreaves is back?
Even if hes wrapped up in cotton next season..he’d be playing some part in the european games atleast?
Wot.. as a friggin ball boy ?
If he ain’t up to playing much you reckon Fergie will throw him to the lions of Euro ?
well i guess am probably hopin for a bit too much..but i dont think fergie wud have held on to him for another season without some reason?