Transfer Rumours Thread

[dukeofdavinci]

G-Owen To United
Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich. The Premiership champions will pay a basic £18million for the Canadian-born midfielder, plus additional sums based upon any trophies United win. Bayern have had their worst season in recent memory, finishing in fourth place in the German Bundesliga. And they now need to bring in funds for a major squad overhaul.
Steve Goodman, Daily Star

As one player reportedly closes in on a move to Old Trafford, the Star reckon another is on his way out. The paper claims Louis Saha will leave United this summer after a row with Sir Alex Ferguson when the Frenchman asked for a week off after pulling out of the Manchester derby 11 days ago

this came out today.if its true then wow £18m is too much money.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by dukeofdavinci

this came out today.if its true then wow £18m is too much money.

It is way too much money but as it is the Star reporting it you an be certain it isn't true.

[kyan]

I've seen the article in the Daily Telegraph as well though, it sounds a lot more concrete this time...

[dukeofdavinci]

I've seen the article in the Daily Telegraph as well though, it sounds a lot more concrete this time...

the deal might be concrete but im not sure that they have the right figures.

[Tattooed Crusader]

Signing Carrick for £18million last summer set the price point on this deal. To be honest, it didn't really matter who United set their sights on, the price would probably be 20% higher for Chelsea, United, Real Madrid etc simply because they are who they are.

When Carrick was signed last summer, several folks (including myself) lamented the price. Looking back on it now it doesn't look like such a bad deal, as he really came on in the second half of the season. If the deal is done, then time will tell whether United got the best end of this transfer. If Hargreaves is "the next Paul Scholes" and actually plays to that level - we may look back on £18million as a complete steal.

[dukeofdavinci]

When Carrick was signed last summer, several folks (including myself) lamented the price. Looking back on it now it doesn't look like such a bad deal, as he really came on in the second half of the season. If the deal is done, then time will tell whether United got the best end of this transfer. If Hargreaves is "the next Paul Scholes" and actually plays to that level - we may look back on £18million as a complete steal.

true very true my man but in carrick case he is premiership tested and we have prior knowledge on how he would be performing but with owen we have only known of his performance away from the premiership so the price comes in question here.

[Tattooed Crusader]

but with owen we have only known of his performance away from the premiership so the price comes in question here

Yes - a true statement. However, if you think about it - every transfer is a bit of a gamble:

After the derby last season, we questioned Vidic's signing a bit - and one year later ...
When United signed Ronaldo for over 12m - we questioned the wisdom of paying so much for a teenager. Fast forward a couple of years ....

This year's transfer class will be no different - Hargreaves, Nani, Huntelaar (PLEASE SIGN HIM!), Deco, Torres - whoever winds up coming to United, there will be questions.

[dukeofdavinci]

After the derby last season, we questioned Vidic's signing a bit - and one year later ...
When United signed Ronaldo for over 12m - we questioned the wisdom of paying so much for a teenager. Fast forward a couple of years ....

This year's transfer class will be no different - Hargreaves, Nani, Huntelaar (PLEASE SIGN HIM!), Deco, Torres - whoever winds up coming to United, there will be questions.

you got me there, but vida and ronaldo didnt cost as high as owen thats why we didnt feel that of a robbed when they didnt performed.

[kyan]

Hargreaves shouldn't be that much of a risk though, he's one of the most steroetypically "English style" players in the English NT!

He puts in 100%, is very athletic, quick and strong and always makes a tackle. Considering he speaks the language and trains with the national team I don't think he'd struggle to settle in.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by Tattooed Crusader

Signing Carrick for £18million last summer set the price point on this deal. To be honest, it didn't really matter who United set their sights on, the price would probably be 20% higher for Chelsea, United, Real Madrid etc simply because they are who they are.

When Carrick was signed last summer, several folks (including myself) lamented the price. Looking back on it now it doesn't look like such a bad deal, as he really came on in the second half of the season. If the deal is done, then time will tell whether United got the best end of this transfer. If Hargreaves is "the next Paul Scholes" and actually plays to that level - we may look back on £18million as a complete steal.

Carrick cost £14m plus bonus payments though, the Hargreaves deal is said to be £18m plus bonuses, big difference.

If Hargreaves becomes the next Paul Scholes I will buy the biggest/most expensive hat I can find and eat the thing. There is more chance of me being in Chelsea's starting 11 for the first game of next season than there is of Hargreaves being the next Scholes. It is a possibility that Hargreaves may eventually replace Scholes but that is besides the point, Scholes is a different class, a different sort of player and just plain better than Hargreaves.

[kyan]

The way I see it is we're going to be overcharged anyway, a player like hargreaves is one of the missing links in the jigsaw. yes there are cheaper options but at least with hargreaves we all know exactly what we're getting (ie not kleberson/djemba djemba). he'll never be able to pass a ball like Scholes, but he gives us something that at the moment fletcher is our best player at... tenacity in midfield. plus he's very versatile and still young.

[Tattooed Crusader]

Originally Posted by russe||

If Hargreaves becomes the next Paul Scholes I will buy the biggest/most expensive hat I can find and eat the thing.

Can you make sure the video of you doing that gets posted

Seriously though - Hargreaves could learn a lot from Scholes, which is what I am hoping happens.

And thanks for correcting me on the Carrick transfer!

[jlae11]

hargreaves will NEVER be even close to the class that scholes is in... owen couldnt even tie scholesey's shoes to be fair. for me, hargreaves is a much better version of fletcher... and i dont know why he has drawn comparisons to paul scholes. they dont play the same position, their styles are vastly different, and scholes is just flat out 10x the player that hargreaves is (or ever will be probably). BUT, i do think that hargreaves would be a good signing if it were for carrick money (14 + performance payments)... its just that i dont know where he will fit in... carrick and scholes are both better than he is, so unless united is thinking about going to a 4-3-3 next year (which is nearly impossible because rooney wouldnt fit into that system i dont think), then i dont see his place in the team. someone help me out here?

[kyan]

itll be a rotation, fletcher gets a good number of games, hargreaves will probably take his spot with perhaps a few more performances, especially in europe.

[Tattooed Crusader]

Hargreaves is 25 and will get a good number of games in a rotation with Carrick & Scholes. I can't see when all three might be played, unless United plan to play Hargreaves in front of the back four (?) in a 4-1-3-2 formation or something similar ...

Until he's inked the deal though, it's all speculation