New Manchester United coach Paul Scholes says that the club will rebuild this summer but only if Sir Alex Ferguson deems it necessary. Scholes, who retired at the end of last season, says he is as excited as the fans, with a string of names linked to United in the press over the past fortnight. Reports suggest that United will embark on the largest spending spree in the Glazer family’s time in charge of the club as Ferguson aims to bridge the gap between the Reds and Europe’s best.
Ferguson has already committed United to the £16.5 million acquisition of Blackburn Rovers’ teenager Phil Jones, while Ashley Young and David de Gea will arrive at Old Trafford in early July for an additional £34 million. Meanwhile, United’s 69-year-old manager continues to search for an elusive ‘world class’ central midfielder to replace Scholes in the squad.
“The manager will know what he needs and if he needs to buy players or he’s happy with what he’s already got,” Scholes said on Wednesday.
“Over the last couple of years he’s not really added that much to it, and if he feels the need to do it now, he’ll do it. He’s built three or four teams now and if he needs to do it again, I’m sure he will.
“I don’t know where the answer lies about a replacement. That is up to the manager and his staff. There is no doubt there is a lot of talent at this club. You only have to look at the youth team this year and what they have done. There are some great players.”
Most supporters and pundits have identified central midfield as United’s primary area of weakness and Scholes’ retirement, along with Owen Hargreaves’ departure, has depleted Ferguson’s resources. Darron Gibson will shortly move to Sunderland while youth team players Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and Ryan Tunnicliffe are considered too inexperienced for first team duty next season.
However, primary targets Wesley Sneijder and Luka Modric seem unlikely to be available this summer. Sneijder has remained non-committal on his future at Internazionale but a £4 million net wage and a £30 million plus transfer fee could put the Dutchman out of Ferguson’s reach. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Modric is wanted by both Chelsea and Manchester City, pushing the price to exorbitant levels.
Given the weaknesses in central midfield Ferguson’s apparent pursuit of Alexis Sanchez, the Chilean utility-forward who current plys his trade at Udinese in Italy, is perhaps surprising. Sanchez primarily operators on the right-side for Udinese but has played from the left and as a shadow forward for club and country; positions in which Ferguson is well stocked. After all, Young will compliment Antonio Valencia, Park Ji-Sung, Nani and Wayne Rooney in those positions. Youngster Tom Cleverley will also return to the club this summer.
Sanchez would be a frighteningly expensive acquisition too as City and Barcelona also bid for the 22-year-old’s services and Udinese demand more than £30 million. Moreover, when the European champions Barça comes calling, few players turn the Catalans down.
Still, with high quality names oft-repeated in the press, Scholes says he has high hopes for this summer’s transfer business; a window he will watch as both fan and United employee.
“The ones we have been linked with are great players as well,” said the 36-year-old former player.
“I am sure the manager will buy or bring through the right players and will be just as successful and hopefully get towards the Barcelona level as well. Even when I was a player you see all these top players around the world that you’re linked with, and you’re excited about maybe playing with them. As a fan now, just like my son is, we’re hoping we buy the best players in the world and that they make us even stronger for next year.”
Whether United secures the star names is very much dependent on money of course. Quality, even when completely inexperienced as demonstrated by Jones’ capture, comes at a very high price. Indeed, if United truly is competing at the top end of this summer’s market then the club is in an élite group. While City and Chelsea enjoy the patronage of huge private wealth, Barça and Real Madrid monopolise La Liga media rights money.
It is fact that United fans may well bare in mind when browsing this summer’s red tops. After all, talk is cheap and while the noises emanating from Old Trafford suggest a splurge – and around £180 million in cash sits in the club’s bank account – recent history might suggest otherwise.
Capturing just one of Sanchez, Sneijder or Modric remains a big ask. But like Scholes, fans may well have fun watching the summer’s drama unfold.
Is Young a confirmed signing already?
We wont get Sanchez….we dont need him. We do need a Modric type player….sneijder plays too far foward and will get in Roo’s way.
Call me Herbie if you want, but I reckon Charlie Adam and/or Douglas Costa. Could live with that.
I disagree… I’m starting to feel pretty confident about Sanchez… nearly every paper is reporting the same story… a straight fight between United and City… the Bitters want him, but Sanchez heavily prefers United… and Gill is in Spain today to try and sort it out.
Nothing’s over till it’s over, of course… and I read that Barca still want him, but don’t want to pay what Udinese want, and are too concerned with landing Fabrigas… and it seems the Renties might make a late bid as well… but the bottom line is this, United seem to be really serious about bringing in some classy talent… and even if it’s not Sanchez… I am genuinely getting excited about the team we might field next year… and it’s been a while since I coulod say that.
Sanchez confirmed today that he is only interested in going to Man United. I would like to see Douglas Costa instead of Ashley Young. Sanchez would be a great signing and there is another big signing in the making. Looks like SAF is not fooling around. Spending money like a drunken sailor. Thats the way to go!
Still there are more players remaining for man utd transfer and i m disagree about man utd manager .If Sanchez doesn’t want to join utd.Then there are lots of players still remaining who are outsatnding like:adam,ronaldo,snijder,nasri also.So to make utd better than previous season then these players can do better.
The article is suggesting that SAF is buying or the squad is full of right wingers and no natural left winger. Which brings me back to what I said earlier that Valencia could be moving to right back. I just heard over the news that Man Utd have put in a bid of 10 million for Nasri. Lets see where this story goes. But its great that we are moving early to get players as there is a huge bidding war going on right now.
// Which brings me back to what I said earlier that Valencia could be moving to right back. //
But why? Surely the Da Silvas have that owned now? With Smalling very capable there too.
// I just heard over the news that Man Utd have put in a bid of 10 million for Nasri. //
You did? Sweet!! Link? I last read he’d committed to the Arse but we all know that means nowt!
Silly season here again…
Sanchez talk look more likely to fizzle out..hoping we dont miss out on quality play maker though..
Its scary to even think we’d go into the new season without one..we managed paper the cracks this season but only just..thanks to the incompetence of our rivals and also our immaculate home form..
the man ant inter seems unlikely,modric is gonna be another task with hard nose levy..and pastore well the last i read they’ve slapped a £44 mil tag on him..
we’ll no see if gill and the glazer’s put their money where they’re mouth is after all the talk of splurges..
Im no fan of ashley young..don’t know where the gaffer sees him fit in our midfield so dominantly right sided..
It’s surprising that United are constantly being linked with wingers.
Players like Nasri,Young,Sanchez etc.
United are well stocked on the wings even without Ashley Young joining.
Does this mean that one of our wingers is on the way out?Namely Nani?
Also,I will be shocked if United don’t strengthen the central midfield this summer.
Daily Star now saying we’ve bid £12m for Charlie Adam. How true I dunno. Not against that though.
Ed you seem to be arguing there is “No value in the market” as far as a top quality, “super star” CMFs go. I would go along with that as far as Sneijder, Modric & Pastore go; all over £25M & rising (plus wages). Why we appear to be willing to pay £25M+ for Sanchez on the back of one very good season, if we have signed Young & retain Nani is a mystery. We would have to go a hellavu long way to find better potential than Nani.
Pogba & Morrison are both 18, Tunicliffe 19 & Cleverley almost 22. If they are good enough they are old enough. I really hope that Rodwell has disappeared over the edge of the radar.
Maybe it is better to find young & outstanding talents like De Gea, Jones & Smalling talents & pay the price; all three look exceptional.
As for CMF, maybe just maybe C. Adam -if we could get him fitter- could be the new Paddy Crerand & make the team tick.
ian – not quite sure I was arguing that. More that these three players (Modric, Sneijder, Sanchez) – who represent the very top of the European market – will all be very expensive. History suggests United won’t pay the fee despite the spin of recent weeks. Value for United has equalled cheap and in large numbers. For every Hernandez there is unfortunately Bebe and Obertan. It will require a change in strategy this summer for United to secure an established talent.
As for Pogba/Morrison – they’re not ready. Tunicliffe will get a few CC games and Cleverley will used in wide positions IMHO.
What about a big punt on Christian Eriksen? £15m? 19, Dutch Talent of the Year, 14 caps for Denmark, admired by Cruyff. Could cost double that this time next year.
Maybe the Ashley Young deal could fall apart? *fingers crossed*
Aye, I reckon Cleverley will be used on the left quite a bit
I think Tunicliffe will get a loan to a championship club and I believe Pogba and Morrison are not quite ready yet, I would prefer to see Cleverley in a more central role but thats just my opinion,
For some reason or another this summer big money does seem to be available. We have paid top wack for Jones & de Gea -both potentially great players- & appear to be trying hard for Sanchez. We are, without doubt, very, very close to being a top side. Forget about Barca they are a once in a generation phenomena. It would be surprising if SAF did not buy a potentially world class CMF & instead blew the bulk of funds on Sanchez & Young. I just can’t see this happening. He knows that Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Giggs & probably Anderson are simply not good enough. Rooney CM -a big gamble-& 4 out of Valencia, Young, Hernandez, Sanchez & Nani? No wingers; four speedy attackers -4; 1 (out of Fletcher, Carrick, Jones or Smalling); 1; 4, surely not?
We need more quality in midfield before we can say we have a better team than we had last season IMO
So far the only thing we have improved upon is bollocks in midfield & defence with the aquisition of Jones
At best De Gea will just give us what Van Der Sar gave us; reliability, a cool head, great shot stopper etc. You can’t improve upon the best
valencia at right back is bollocks, rafa and fabio are both good enough to play, maybe taggarts woke up to the fact valencia is xfactorless and therefore aint good enough, he shat himself in the cl final, don’t start randomly putting him in new positions to fit him in
I read into what Scholes was saying that he was hinting Tunnicliffe might be ready to step up?