The Times June 22, 2006
Ferguson adds Senna to shopping list after closing in on Carrick
From Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent, in Baden-Baden
MANCHESTER UNITED are considering a move for Marcos Senna, the Spain midfield player. Sir Alex Ferguson has already lined up Michael Carrick for a transfer to Old Trafford and sees Senna as a dynamic accomplice.
The Brazilian-born player has spent the past four years playing for Villarreal and has impressed so much in recent months that he has forced his way into the Spanish national team at the age of 29. He was in the starting line-up for his country’s first two matches in the World Cup finals, although he was replaced at half-time by Francesc Fàbregas, of Arsenal, against Tunisia on Monday evening.
Ferguson, who is still seeking to replace Roy Keane, has made signing two midfield players his priority. Carrick will move from Tottenham Hotspur for about £12 million and the United manager wants a durable player alongside him. John Obi Mikel, the young Nigerian, would have been the ideal long-term solution but he has joined Chelsea from Lyn Oslo, the Norwegian club, with United receiving £12 million as a settlement after a protracted row.
After looking at a number of players, Senna, who has two years left on his contract, is now being given the most serious consideration. However, the move could depend on the transfer fee demanded by Villarreal. The Spanish club value him at around £8 million but United will want to pay half that.
Neither Carrick nor Senna could be regarded as A-list players in a summer when Chelsea have signed Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko and Mikel at huge cost.
But Ferguson must work within a budget and that has already scuppered a move for Mahamadou Diarra, the midfield player whom Lyons valued at £20 million.
The return of Paul Scholes and Alan Smith from long-term injuries should reinforce Ferguson’s squad, but there is unlikely to be any big-name arrival at Old Trafford even if Ruud van Nistelrooy departs.
Van Nistelrooy drew interest from Germany yesterday, when Felix Magath, the Bayern Munich coach, praised the Holland forward. “Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of the best strikers in the world,” Magath said. “It is not every day that the possibility arises of signing such a player.”
Magath’s comments follow those of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Bayern managing director, who recently said that the possibility of signing Van Nistelrooy was realistic.
