Transfer Rumours Thread

[adz-a-fella]

Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly made Sevilla starlet Sergio Ramos his prime transfer target for the summer.

The wonderfully talented defender, who plays at full back, has already come under the gaze of United, Arsenal and Real Madrid this season.

However, it is now being claimed that having watched him again in recent weeks - Ferguson has told the club's directors that he wants Ramos at 'any cost'.

Ramos is already a full international and like with Jose Antonio Reyes - Sevilla know that they may struggle to keep hold of one of Europe's most highly rated youngsters, although they did increase his release clause to £18 million in January.

The 18-year-old has been watched by Martin Ferguson, United's chief scout and brother of Sir Alex, a number times over the past few weeks and glowing references from him seem to have urged The Red Devils to make a move sooner rather than later.

Ramos has always stated his desire to remain with Sevilla, but it seems increasingly likely he could be on the move.

Martin Ferguson has been very busy in Spain over recent months and has already highlighted a number of possible summer signings for the Old Trafford giants.

He has filed favourable reports on the likes of Villarreal's Jose Reina, Ivan De La Pena of Espanyol, and Racing Santander winger Mario Regueiro.

Away from Ramos and the others, another Racing player has also come to Ferguson's attention in the shape of Anderson Silva.

The 23-year-old is a defensive midfielder and like De La Pena and Michael Essien, is believed to be considered as a possible long-term replacement for United skipper Roy Keane.

United's interest in Silva is even believed to have reached the point of contact between Martin Ferguson and the player's agent.

However, Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all aware of the South American's capabilities and are unlikely to allow United a straight forward path to his signature.

United chief executive David Gill has already insisted the club have spent this summer's transfer budget following the near £30 million paid for Wayne Rooney last August.

However, Ferguson knows he can raise money from sales of other players with a host of United's current squad sweating over their futures - including the likes of Alan Smith, Kleberson, David Bellion, Darren Fletcher, Quinton Fortune and Phil Neville.

Gill did state that money has been set aside for a new goalkeeper, with Roy Carroll looking set to depart on a free transfer.

Selling Phil, Smith and Darren are not options IMO. I can't see who would buy the others. Fortune is our only seller IMO, but I would still keep him.

Anyway, this silly season has began...deluding fans world over...

[Salf]

Gotta love the inclusion of De La Pena in that list of potential long term replacements for Keane... he'll be 29 in a few weeks, and ranks as one of the most unfufilled talents of the past decade. Fact is he failed to cut it as Guardiola's replacement because he was a bit light-weight, and failed to impress during his trial at Celtic last year for the same reason. Hardly going to be on our shopping list (I hope).

[hanuma]

lol.

ramos and silva are great prospects, but dela pena....are you veron in disguise???

[russe||]

We could sell silvestre. I would still like to see Heinze and rio as centrebacks. Heinze is too keen to tackle for a left back - he is happy to commit himself to a tackle halfway up the pitch where if he doesn't win the ball our whole left flank is exposed. As a centreback he wouldn't be in a position to leave us exposed. Besides silvestre makes too many mistakes.

[hanuma]

he can play centre back but i would want someone who is specialist at it.

brown is good at prem level but has never really shown anything above.

him and oshea will probably never be regulars but always brilliant squad players lik p neville.

[Thatslife]

considering he is a centre back and NOT a left back i'd say he's more suited in that position, hoewever i don't think he's stabil enough, brown and rio would be best.

dunno much about ramos to be hones, remeber de la pena from barca when he was younger and he was decent but been fading away(in italy i think?) certainly not good enough.

[usamu]

Selling Phil, Smith and Darren are not options IMO

There have been reports in Dutch papers that Fletcher will be sold to Boro for 2-3 million. Would be a horrible move for us if true.

[The Rule]

United need to buy a number of players this summer. Had they not wasted the £27m on the woman beater they'd have the money to buy them now, but they did and don't.

Saha, Phil Chuckle and Brown or O'Shea are the only sellable United players that will bring in decent money.

[Seifer]

[i]

Saha, Phil Chuckle and Brown or O'Shea are the only sellable United players that will bring in decent money. [/b]

I wouldn't want to see either O'Shea or Brown go, but the likes of Saha, Kleberson, Ricardo, Bellion, Miller and perhaps Phil could go imo.

[The Rule]

You'll get nothing for Bellion, Ricardo, or Miller, maybe a million between them.
£2mil max for Klerberson
£4mil max for Phil Chuckle
£6mil max for Saha

[thewelshconjurer]

Originally posted by The Rule
United need to buy a number of players this summer. Had they not wasted the £27m on the woman beater they'd have the money to buy them now, but they did and don't.

Saha, Phil Chuckle and Brown or O'Shea are the only sellable United players that will bring in decent money.

[usamu]

If the Glazer takeover goes through, he said we'll get 20 million to spend this summer. Not that I'm in favor of the takeover, just throwing it out there.

[adz-a-fella]

Racing Santander midfielder Anderson Silva has told skysports.com that he is aware of interest from Manchester United.

Anderson has emerged as a summer target for The Red Devils, with the club's scout Martin Ferguson watching the Brazilian three times of late.

Reports claim Ferguson has been very impressed by the anchor man and has passed on favourable comments to his brother - United manager Sir Alex.

The United boss is chasing reinforcements to his squad at the end of the season and Anderson has been mooted as a potential long-term successor to Roy Keane.

His impending availability on a free transfer would also attract Ferguson, who will have limited funds to spend in the summer.

But while the 23-year-old has acknowledged the interest from Old Trafford, he admits he has yet to engage in talks with the FA Cup finalists, despite rumours of a meeting between Martin Ferguson and his agent.

"Manchester United have still not spoken with me," Anderson told skysports.com.

"I know that they are interested and follow my matches but I await news."

Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have also been linked with Anderson, who has spent two seasons with Racing.

He is honoured to have been mooted as a target for The Red Devils but is not getting swept away by the interest from the Premiership giants.

Anderson added: "In the world of football there exist little clubs with our history and quality.

"Logically, it is sensational that United think about me but I do not want to be crazy and I only think about the reality."

The defensive midfielder also suggested he would be willing to play in England by saying: "Next to La Liga, The Premiership is the best league in the world."

[john legend]

Originally posted by usamu
If the Glazer takeover goes through, he said we'll get 20 million to spend this summer. Not that I'm in favor of the takeover, just throwing it out there.

£20 million won't get you anything decent. Fergie has said that no players will be leaving unless essential and they will only be buying a new goalkeeper.

[adz-a-fella]

Real Zaragoza defender Gabriel Milito has responded to speculation linking him with Manchester United and Barcelona by stressing he wants to stay at La Romareda.

The highly-rated Argentinian stopper has impressed at Zaragoza after picking up the pieces of his career when a dream move to Real Madrid collapsed when he controversially failed a medical.

"If it is up to me, I will stay," commented Milito to As.

After proving his worth in Europe since leaving Independiente, the 24-year-old seems settled in La Liga and is under contract until 2007.

United successfully imported another Argentinian last year, Gabriel Heinze from Paris Saint Germain, while Barca are known to be keen to strengthen their defensive options during the close season.

Milito is being rated in the €12 million class but his buy-out clause is actually €30 million.

"I don't believe the club will sell Gabriel Milito," added Zaragoza sports director Miguel Pardaza.