ALEX FERGUSON has always liked a flutter.
But now he is taking one of the biggest transfer gambles of his career.
Last night Manchester United were in advanced talks with Michael Owen.
The 29-year-old striker who neither Fabio Capello wants for England or anybody in the Premier League was keen on bar Hull City.
Now United boss Ferguson has made his move.
In the January transfer window he considered it.
In May he looked again at Owen but thought the injuries and the sudden lack of initial pace had confined the former Liverpool player to the lower echelons of top-class football.
Now Ferguson has thought again.
He has made his reputation on nuturing youth and creating teams at Old Trafford.
But he also has a knack of getting the best out of players when it looks like their careers were were touching the finish line.
What about old stager Laurent Blanc, who brought his experience to bear on the United back four during the last knocking of a great career?
And then Henrik Larsson, who was dragged out of Swedish football for a last taste of the rarified atmosphere at the top.
Larsson replied with goals and an excellent all-round understanding with the players around him.
Eric Cantona was younger, but still sat in the stands at Leeds when Ferguson made his move for the maverick who became the catalyst.
There is no comparison to the move for Owen ? but has Fergie once more seen something in a player which can bring glory to both of them?
While the initial burst of pace might have gone, the poacher?s instinct has not.
If United can keep him fit, Ferguson will play him in a way where he snaps up the crumbs from the table and creates a feast of goals.
His transfer could certainly push back some of the storm clouds enveloping Old Trafford.
They have lost the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.
They dragged their feet and lost a cult hero at Old Trafford in Carlos Tevez.
And every top player they have gone for to take their place has decided to move elsewhere, with Franck Ribery now insisting he will only leave Bayern Munich for Real.
Unless, that is, you consider former Wigan winger Antonio Valencia to be a top player.
Karim Benzema also turned his back on a move to Old Trafford to join Real.
So where does that leave United?
Without the 67 goals Ronaldo scored over the last two seasons and the energy and desire that Tevez brought to the squad.
Right now they have only one recognised out-and-out goalscorer in Wayne Rooney.
They also have Dimitar Berbatov for whom the jury is not just out but considering a guilty verdict when accused of not trying hard enough for the Reds.
That was something that could never be said of Tevez or Ronaldo.
There was a time when United would just snap their fingers and a player would come running.
That time seems to be in the past. Now they seem to be banking on a veteran striker to lift the gloom.
But now he is taking one of the biggest transfer gambles of his career.
Last night Manchester United were in advanced talks with Michael Owen.
The 29-year-old striker who neither Fabio Capello wants for England or anybody in the Premier League was keen on bar Hull City.
Now United boss Ferguson has made his move.
In the January transfer window he considered it.
In May he looked again at Owen but thought the injuries and the sudden lack of initial pace had confined the former Liverpool player to the lower echelons of top-class football.
Now Ferguson has thought again.
He has made his reputation on nuturing youth and creating teams at Old Trafford.
But he also has a knack of getting the best out of players when it looks like their careers were were touching the finish line.
What about old stager Laurent Blanc, who brought his experience to bear on the United back four during the last knocking of a great career?
And then Henrik Larsson, who was dragged out of Swedish football for a last taste of the rarified atmosphere at the top.
Larsson replied with goals and an excellent all-round understanding with the players around him.
Eric Cantona was younger, but still sat in the stands at Leeds when Ferguson made his move for the maverick who became the catalyst.
There is no comparison to the move for Owen ? but has Fergie once more seen something in a player which can bring glory to both of them?
While the initial burst of pace might have gone, the poacher?s instinct has not.
If United can keep him fit, Ferguson will play him in a way where he snaps up the crumbs from the table and creates a feast of goals.
His transfer could certainly push back some of the storm clouds enveloping Old Trafford.
They have lost the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.
They dragged their feet and lost a cult hero at Old Trafford in Carlos Tevez.
And every top player they have gone for to take their place has decided to move elsewhere, with Franck Ribery now insisting he will only leave Bayern Munich for Real.
Unless, that is, you consider former Wigan winger Antonio Valencia to be a top player.
Karim Benzema also turned his back on a move to Old Trafford to join Real.
So where does that leave United?
Without the 67 goals Ronaldo scored over the last two seasons and the energy and desire that Tevez brought to the squad.
Right now they have only one recognised out-and-out goalscorer in Wayne Rooney.
They also have Dimitar Berbatov for whom the jury is not just out but considering a guilty verdict when accused of not trying hard enough for the Reds.
That was something that could never be said of Tevez or Ronaldo.
There was a time when United would just snap their fingers and a player would come running.
That time seems to be in the past. Now they seem to be banking on a veteran striker to lift the gloom.
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