Manchester United Thread

[andy1967]

@red just click on the link

[thered]

Full article
Manchester United 'very close' to Thiago deal from Barcelona | Football News | ESPN.co.uk

United 'very close' to Thiago deal

ESPN staff

July 2, 2013

Manchester United sources have stated to ESPN that a deal for Thiago Alcantara is now "very close", as the club feel the situation has taken a positive turn over the past few days.

One Old Trafford official admitted that the process had often been frustrating and likened it to the negotiations for Wesley Sneijder in 2011.
The difference is that there is now a much stronger sense that the move for the Barcelona midfielder will end up successful. There is a tentative hope that they may even be able to announce the transfer at David Moyes' first press conference as United boss.
Spanish newspaper Sport reported on Monday that one of the remaining stumbling blocks was Thiago requesting a similar contract clause to that which he has at Barcelona, whereby he would be allowed to leave for a set fee if he did not make a required number of appearances - it is understood this clause is indeed being sought.
Moyes, meanwhile, has been particularly vocal behind the scenes about pushing the transfer through. Additionally, the most recent soundings from the player's camp have been much more positive than at any point over the previous ten days.
Barcelona, however, are still holding out some hope that they can convince the player to stay. On Tuesday, spokesman Toni Freixa said: "There's no news [regarding Thiago]. He has a contract and didn't say anything, so he's still a Barca player now."
Despite United's new confidence, there is still also an element of trepidation due the fact this is a new regime at Old Trafford and because of the club's recent history of missing out on big targets at similar points in negotiations.
In the past few summers, United thought they had secured deals for Sneijder, Mesut Ozil, David Silva and Karim Benzema only for each move to collapse late on. This time, however, United feel they "couldn't possibly have done more" - from clauses to wages.
Elsewhere, Moyes is understood to now have a much more open attitude to keeping Wayne Rooney, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's apparent keenness to see him leave Old Trafford. The duo are set to meet on Tuesday.
The new United boss does also retain interest in both Benfica's Ezequiel Garay and PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Strootman, although neither deal is as advanced as has been reported elsewhere.
PSV's sporting director Marcel Brands actually insisted on Tuesday that the Dutch club would resolve to keep the midfielder. "We do not want to lose Strootman this summer. He knows that he will stay at PSV for another season," Brands told De Telegraaf.
Should United agree a deal with the player himself, however, it is understood that PSV would not stand in his way. Moyes is also an admirer of Garay and, in a somewhat surprise move, will monitor the club's centre-back situation over the course of his first month in the job.
It is also expected that United will go back in for Leighton Baines, after an opening bid of around ?10-12 million was rejected by Everton.

Read more at http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/218109.html#U1tIMl24cjGvEAV4.99

cant see it

[andy1967]

Full article
Manchester United 'very close' to Thiago deal from Barcelona | Football News | ESPN.co.uk

United 'very close' to Thiago deal

ESPN staff

July 2, 2013

Manchester United sources have stated to ESPN that a deal for Thiago Alcantara is now "very close", as the club feel the situation has taken a positive turn over the past few days.

One Old Trafford official admitted that the process had often been frustrating and likened it to the negotiations for Wesley Sneijder in 2011.
The difference is that there is now a much stronger sense that the move for the Barcelona midfielder will end up successful. There is a tentative hope that they may even be able to announce the transfer at David Moyes' first press conference as United boss.
Spanish newspaper Sport reported on Monday that one of the remaining stumbling blocks was Thiago requesting a similar contract clause to that which he has at Barcelona, whereby he would be allowed to leave for a set fee if he did not make a required number of appearances - it is understood this clause is indeed being sought.
Moyes, meanwhile, has been particularly vocal behind the scenes about pushing the transfer through. Additionally, the most recent soundings from the player's camp have been much more positive than at any point over the previous ten days.
Barcelona, however, are still holding out some hope that they can convince the player to stay. On Tuesday, spokesman Toni Freixa said: "There's no news [regarding Thiago]. He has a contract and didn't say anything, so he's still a Barca player now."
Despite United's new confidence, there is still also an element of trepidation due the fact this is a new regime at Old Trafford and because of the club's recent history of missing out on big targets at similar points in negotiations.
In the past few summers, United thought they had secured deals for Sneijder, Mesut Ozil, David Silva and Karim Benzema only for each move to collapse late on. This time, however, United feel they "couldn't possibly have done more" - from clauses to wages.
Elsewhere, Moyes is understood to now have a much more open attitude to keeping Wayne Rooney, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's apparent keenness to see him leave Old Trafford. The duo are set to meet on Tuesday.
The new United boss does also retain interest in both Benfica's Ezequiel Garay and PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Strootman, although neither deal is as advanced as has been reported elsewhere.
PSV's sporting director Marcel Brands actually insisted on Tuesday that the Dutch club would resolve to keep the midfielder. "We do not want to lose Strootman this summer. He knows that he will stay at PSV for another season," Brands told De Telegraaf.
Should United agree a deal with the player himself, however, it is understood that PSV would not stand in his way. Moyes is also an admirer of Garay and, in a somewhat surprise move, will monitor the club's centre-back situation over the course of his first month in the job.
It is also expected that United will go back in for Leighton Baines, after an opening bid of around ?10-12 million was rejected by Everton.

Read more at http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/218109.html#U1tIMl24cjGvEAV4.99

[thered]

Just thinking we signed right back who was on trial

If the rumours are to be believed and thiago signs with possible garay strootman and baines too is any of this moyes work???????

Fergies been watching them all anyway, seems any who were destined are fergies signings anyway

[andy1967]

Walking into the Champions of 2013

[andy1967]

The crew

[Bulld0g]

Yea you're welcome to em bug eye



or maybe

[andy1967]

Welcome

[andy1967]

Thiago to 'very weak' Manchester United midfield is practically done, according to 'Vox populi' in Barcelona

• Posted by SPORT WITNESS on July 1, 2013 at 18:12 in Sport Witness Football
• View Discussions

They're giving up in Barcelona on Thiago, which is quite a surprise given that many Manchester Untied fans had done the same following the footballer's 'I love Barcelona' tweet, accompanied by a photograph of him and his brother dipping their feet in a rooftop pool. Manchester may not have the sun to match Barcelona, although Monday had a glorious afternoon, but that isn't what interests Thiago if the stories of his World Cup dream are to believed.

They are understandable, he turns 23 in April and probably feels his warrants a place in the Spanish squad for Brazil, his family is from the country and his father represented the Brazilian national team at USA '94, there's just so many reasons why Thiago will be desperate to make the plane.

The Catalan newspapers are largely moving away from their spiteful view of the potential transfer, the toys have already been chucked out of the pram and Sport say it's now known in Barcelona that the player is leaving. They say it's 'Vox populi', a Latin phrase which means the voice of the people but better translates to 'word on the street'.
Sport reckon Thiago won't change his mind and Andoni Zubizarreta has been unable or unwilling to change it for him, or prevent the player leaving for his transfer clause by other means, meaning the deal is on the verge of happening.

The only dig at Manchester United is calling the midfield 'very weak' and some fans of the club would agree with that. Even the 'weak' insult is explained by the loss of Paul Scholes and advancing years of Ryan Giggs, they're starting to sound a lot nicer in Spain about the situation.

The threats, pushed through the Catalan media, of making Thiago pay the fee personally and therefore being liable for income tax (read more here), have disappeared and Sport make a point of saying that even though he'll be paid far more, he's leaving for football reasons. It's another turn on a sixpence from them and could have something to do with reports in Spain at the weekend that Manchester United were willing to pay a little extra to help smooth the deal through.

The clause issue has already been picked up by many English websites and Sport explained in their newspaper today that Thiago wants to be allowed to leave next summer for a relatively low transfer fee if he isn't played a lot by the club. They explain that he's good friends with Giovani dos Santos, who all but disappeared at Tottenham Hotspur, and this has giving him a little concern.

Mundo Deportivo mention the Bayern Munich connection but that's again just down to them speculating regarding Pep Guardiola and they've been quite alone in banging that drum. They seem to have given up too and have a section explaining how well the player would do in the Premier League, saying he could follow in the footsteps of players like Michu, Arteta and Cazorla and make a quick and good impact. One of their journalists even says that choosing to move to Manchester United is a good idea and he'd be going at just the right time to boost a midfield which needs it.

However, it's Sport who explain how the deal is all but done and the word on the street in Barcelona is that Thiago is going to Manchester United, with much of the wrath directed at Andoni Zubizarreta.

[wongers]

Been not on for the past couple of weeks been in rehab and not cos of the booze got the leg done out came the old nuts bolts and pins top of the range stuff in there now.
Had to learn how to walk everythings fine but sore was told that it will take up to 2months and all will be well.

all the best mate (did they replace the bolt in your neck as well)

[thered]

Thiago Alacantra's deal apparently been held up by a release clause, similar to his current deal

I say give him it

You can see his reasoning he wants to play and would be the reason he leaves Barca for us is purely gametime.

If he is not good enough to play 30 games then he can leave for the buyout fee 20 million euro supposedly

If he is good enough there is no buyout fee and he will play much more

On that basis its simple, buy him

Only issue i can see arising is injury, if he gets injured for 5 months say they needs to be some kind of counter clause

[thered]

Carrick played there twice if I remember correctly, Everton game was one of them, we had P Jones out with a back injury, C Smalling foot, J Evans ankle, Rio with a groin injury and Vidic first game back from 9 months out from cruciate ligament surgury, that's 4 out of our 5 senior centre-halves against Everton, SAF could'nt ask teenage defenders S Wootton and M Keane to play against Fellaini and Jelavic, he left Rafael out and put Valencia as right back due to Everton's heights in players. Hopefully we will never have them all with injurys at the same time again and use Carrick their instead of the midfield where he was missed in that game.
Baines will cost us more than 8 million if we do buy him, hopefully we can keep Evra at UTD too if the deal does happen.

Happened season before with carrick centre half too

[andy1967]

Dont agree Vidic and Rio at the minute need wrapping in cotton wool, careers could be finished any minute

Evans is our next best and Jones although does a decent job wherever he plays has not shown to me yet he has enough to play centre half week in week out, and seems also injury prone to little niggles

Smalling is not good enough, he is decent and can play well but he is not a top drawer centre half and he also seems to pick up lots of niggles

Centre half is a good idea IMO

Baines at 8 Million is good business 12m is too much and the reported 16-20m is ridiculous he is 28 year old left back, personally i would have bought him from wigan he was a good player then

If we have an abundance of fit centre halfs why has carrick played there a few times?

Carrick played there twice if I remember correctly, Everton game was one of them, we had P Jones out with a back injury, C Smalling foot, J Evans ankle, Rio with a groin injury and Vidic first game back from 9 months out from cruciate ligament surgury, that's 4 out of our 5 senior centre-halves against Everton, SAF could'nt ask teenage defenders S Wootton and M Keane to play against Fellaini and Jelavic, he left Rafael out and put Valencia as right back due to Everton's heights in players. Hopefully we will never have them all with injurys at the same time again and use Carrick their instead of the midfield where he was missed in that game.
Baines will cost us more than 8 million if we do buy him, hopefully we can keep Evra at UTD too if the deal does happen.

[thered]

Same again with this Garay, we have Vidic Rio and when they retire or leave for another club we have Smalling and Evans even Jones who are as good as them in that position, so where again do we need anymore of the same players, this is going to be a long month with all these players coming in

Dont agree Vidic and Rio at the minute need wrapping in cotton wool, careers could be finished any minute

Evans is our next best and Jones although does a decent job wherever he plays has not shown to me yet he has enough to play centre half week in week out, and seems also injury prone to little niggles

Smalling is not good enough, he is decent and can play well but he is not a top drawer centre half and he also seems to pick up lots of niggles

Centre half is a good idea IMO

Baines at 8 Million is good business 12m is too much and the reported 16-20m is ridiculous he is 28 year old left back, personally i would have bought him from wigan he was a good player then

If we have an abundance of fit centre halfs why has carrick played there a few times?

[thered]

Been not on for the past couple of weeks been in rehab and not cos of the booze got the leg done out came the old nuts bolts and pins top of the range stuff in there now.
Had to learn how to walk everythings fine but sore was told that it will take up to 2months and all will be well.

Good luck with the recovery,