Transfer Rumours Thread

[russe||]

Espanyol defender Albert Lopo is coy regarding his future after being watched by Manchester United again at the weekend.

The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the stopper and dispatched a scout to take in Espanyol's 3-2 defeat to Mallorca on Sunday.

But the United representative is likely to have left disappointed after Lopo was sent off after 54 minutes.

Lopo will have to hope his indiscretion has not scuppered any prospect of a move to The Premiership in the summer, with a string of clubs joining United as admirers.

In addition to the long-standing interest from Old Trafford, Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers and Everton have all been tracking Lopo's progress.

The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season and Espanyol may be tempted to cash in on the centre half this summer.

He has a release fee of €9 million (£6 million) in his contract and that is unlikely to deter The Red Devils from pursuing their interest.

Lopo, though, is refusing to be swayed by talk of a summer exit from the Montjuic and wants to channel his energies on helping Espanyol secure a European berth.

"I am only interested in the best results for Espanyol and our objective is to play in Europe," Lopo told skysports.com.

"I don't want to think about any other thing."

Espanyol's sporting director Cristobal Parralo revealed the club have fielded no firm enquiries from any of Lopo's suitors.

Parralo said: "No club has presented a proposition to us for Lopo.

"I only know about the rumours in the newspapers but not of a direct contact."

If he has a release fee in his contract of £6mil and is out of contract in a year we should be able to get him for a bit less. But is he any good?

[adz-a-fella]

Michael Essien has opened the door to a summer move to The Premiership by declaring that he would be happy in England.

The Lyon midfielder has been strongly linked with Manchester United as they look to find a long-term replacement for Roy Keane, although the French outfit have insisted that they are set to keep hold of the talented Ghanaian for another year.

Essien admits that he savoured the taste of football at Old Trafford when the French champions lost out to United in the UEFA Champions League earlier this season, and believes he would easily adapt to the physical nature of the English league.

"It was wonderful to play at Old Trafford," Essien told Four Four Two.

"They are one of the biggest clubs in Europe so of course I was happy to play there, but no, I wasn't think about my future during the game.

"I get on the pitch and only think about football.

"In England the game is based on physical strength and that's what I like.

"I think I can adapt well, I think I have the qualities to play there and I already speak the language.

"It will be easier for me than when I arrived in France.

"I'll be happy in England."

Sir Alex Ferguson has long been an admirer of the versatile 22-year-old and had Essien on trial in 2000 with a view to sending him to feeder club Royal Antwerp.

Essien revealed that the conditions at the time were not right for a move to the English giants and praised Red Devils boss Ferguson for his managerial abilities.

"It was a good trial," Essien continued.

"I think I did well, I don't think I had the level to play there at the time but Sir Alex Ferguson said I had played well.

"I liked him, he's a very good coach."

[MUFC]

The MEN reports we may bid for Michael Ballack. The German midfielder’s contract expires next summer; there are widely reported rumours that we want Ajax’s Nigel De Jong, who also has only one year left on his contract.

[The Rule]

Originally posted by MUFC
The MEN reports we may bid for Michael Ballack. The German midfielder’s contract expires next summer; there are widely reported rumours that we want Ajax’s Nigel De Jong, who also has only one year left on his contract.

You just gonna pull £20mil out of thin air??

Ballack won't be going to Manure,

[The Rule]

Originally posted by russe||
If he has a release fee in his contract of £6mil and is out of contract in a year we should be able to get him for a bit less. But is he any good?

He's quality judging by the half dozen times i've seen him, Rafa tried to get him for Valencia, he's rumoured to be looking at him again.

Can play CB or RB i believe.

[hanuma]

and left back and he has played in midfield and as a striker in 2 games.

[MUFC]

Manchester United could look to Serie A again this summer for young talent, according to reports in Italy.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been buoyed by the success of Giuseppe Rossi in the Old Trafford reserves and could be tempted to look to the continent again when planning any additions to his squad this summer.
Messina midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino has attracted interest from United scouts and is said to be featuring on a list of possible targets.
The 22-year-old joined the Sicilian side on loan from Roma last summer but Messina seem set to obtain full ownership of the player.
Although there has been no contact yet between United, who are focusing on the FA Cup final with Arsenal, and Messina, D'Agostino could emerge as an option when Ferguson thinks over his transfer plans.
A creative influence, who prefers to operate behind two strikers, the Palermo-born youngster is something of a free kick expert. He has represented Italy at various levels up to the Under-21 side.

[ruudlover]

Saha, Silvestre, P.Neville, Kleberson and Miller are all not needed and could be sold, we have plenty of young players coming thew hu r better than these

[MUFC]

Take Phil out and Tweety but sell the rest. These two we need are good squad players and tweety is still a regular.

[Johnson]

silly season well and truly up mand running

ballack, no chance

[MUFC]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reported to be ready to make a surprise move for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ji-Sung Park.

The Korean midfielder has received rave reviews following his Champions League exploits with PSV and Ferguson may see the versatile midfielder as an ideal part of his side next year, according to The Daily Mirror.

The 24-year-old can play in the centre of the field or out wide and will provide stiff competition for Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

PSV may be keen to offload Park, who is fast approaching the end of his contract, and could join the Old Trafford club for as little as £3million, a figure which could easily be recouped should United crack the lucrative Asian market.

Park is one of the most popular sportsmen back in his homeland, recently voted 'most favourite athlete', and that is likely to appeal to new owner Malcolm Glazer.

Park's signing could pave the way for an exit for Kleberson, with Benfica reported to be interested in a £1.5million deal.

[russe||]

MUFC that one is interesting, from what I've seen of Park he is a good little player. IMO he would be just a squad player but I can certainly see the attraction at that price with all the mechandising opitunities.

[adz-a-fella]

Originally Posted by Russe||

that price with all the mechandising opitunities.

Which is where the speculation has started, IMO.

[Roo]

We should sell Kleba for more than 1.5m, considering we paid 6.5m!
Look at the Forlan deal ... bought 7.5m, sold for 2m, and now he's worth atleast 7.5m again!
We should include options in the deal for future discounts from Benfica.

I would offload:
Kleba, Bellion, P. Neville (to clear the wage bill for a world-class midfielder.), Saha (could be used as bait for this world-class midfielder ... *cough* ballack *cough*),
If we can get a good defender, then i would let Silvestre go. He's good with Rio, but on his own he is a bit dodgy, otherwise there wasnt much wrong with the back-four.

So basically what we need is :

*a keeper
*a defensive midfielder
*a playmaker (cos scholes is inconsistent and our strikers are lost upfront)

[Morrison]

United Park bid confirmed!

Park Ji-sung's agent Chiel Dekker has confirmed Manchester United are trying to sign the PSV Eindhoven wide man, leaving the South Korean with a difficult decision.

Although happy in Holland and having huge respect for coach Guus Hiddink, the midfielder has already admitted he would consider leaving Eindhoven if the right offer came along.

A switch to Old Trafford would be difficult to resist although the two clubs have yet to discuss any transfer fee for Park, who has been offered a new contract with the Dutch Double winners.

"Of course he wanted to extend his deal," explained Dekker to De Telegraaf.

"But, when a club such as Manchester United approaches you, it will make you doubt.

"Such clubs will not come along every day."

Park is preparing for the World Cup qualifier with Uzbekistan and is to consult Hiddink, who was his international coach at the last World Cup, before deciding on his future.

"He has much respect for Hiddink," explained Dekker.

"It is not said that he has already chosen for Manchester United.

"But this move is a fantastic chance."

The former Kyoto Purple star will decide within the next week or so, with Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly convinced to try and sign the player after witnessing his performances against Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.