=>They always get their man
The millions of mums and dads whose young kids own Manchester United shirts with ´Beckham´ printed on the back should be chewing their nails nervously this morning. Those expensive presents may be as redundant as Robin Cook - and even less sexy by the end of the season. Because the news that Spanish giants Real Madrid have set their sights on signing the England skipper means that United are up against the club who, like the Mounties, always get their man. Real have been stockpiling the greatest footballers on the planet over the last three years - luring them with multi-million pound wages, carting them off in huge private jets and then caging them in the vast and passionate Bernabeu Stadium. Now their fantastically wealthy and ambitious president Florentino Perez wants just one more superstar to complete his set. He wants the name ´Beckham´ written on the back of a lilywhite Madrid shirt this summer - and then he wants those shirts to sell faster than cold beers in a sauna.
Charlie Wyett, The Sun
Scholes clear of back pain
Paul Scholes believes Manchester´s new-found defensive strength has been the key to their revived Premiership challenge and formidable league form. United have conceded just 27 goals this season, the fewest in the Premiership, compared to 39 at the same stage last season when they finished third and had to pre-qualify for the Champions League.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
Read Paul Scholes´ quotes on ManUtd.com here >
Come on Ireland
Roy Keane has sent a good luck message to the Ireland squad ahead of their crunch Euro 2004 double header. Keane called boss Brian Kerr earlier this week to wish him and the team all the best ahead of the crucial games against Georgia and Albania. It is unclear whether Keane actually spoke to Kerr or left a message on his answering machine. But it is understood he was eager to let him know he would be supporting his former team-mates.
Neil O´Riordan, The Sun
£20m Duff is United target
Blackburn have sparked a transfer frenzy by admitting they face a fight to hold on to Damien Duff this summer. Irish wing wizard Duff is wanted by Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle - despite signing a lucrative new four-year deal with Rovers last year. Blackburn boss Graeme Souness slapped a £20million price tag on Duff last season to keep clubs at bay after Gerard Houllier tried to lure the 24-year-old star to Anfield. But Rovers know they finally face losing their prize asset.
Mike Jeffrey, The Sun
Arsenal are arrogant and so are we...
David Beckham has not always seen eye-to-eye with Sir Alex Ferguson in recent weeks. He even has the scars to prove it, a legacy of the flying boot incident that was never going to stay as private as Fergie demanded. But when it comes to Manchester United´s fiercest rivals, Beckham and his manager do at least have some views in common. Ferguson´s accusations of triumphalism and arrogance caused anger at Highbury, but Beckham insisted last night he was only speaking the truth about every winning football side. The England captain said: "Of course Arsenal are arrogant. Every one of their players has arrogance, and as a team they´ve got it as well. But so have we, so have Newcastle and so have Liverpool. There has to be a touch of arrogance about you if you´re going to be a great team."
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror
Beckham´s not for Real
David Beckham last night said he was honoured after becoming Real Madrid´s top transfer target this summer, but insists he is staying at Manchester United. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has promised he will land Beckham within the next two years. And Real´s managing director Jorge Valdano has confirmed that the Spanish giants want to sign the England skipper in a £40m deal.
John Cross, Daily Mirror
Fergie bids £7m for Turkey star Nihat
Sir Alex Ferguson has got the green light to sign Turkish sensation Nihat Kahveci. Manchester United boss Ferguson has set his sights on a striker who has 14 goals for Spain’s Real Sociedad this season. He sent his brother and European scout Martin to watch the World Cup star score in the 2-1 win at Racing Santander last week. United have tabled an offer of about £7million for 23-year-old Nihat, with Sociedad saying they are keen to sell.
Sports writer, Daily Express
Real Sociedad have denied that Nihat is on his way to United >
Fergie’s Brown frown
Wes Brown has rocked Manchester United with the news that he will be out for a month. The United defender, who broke his ankle earlier this season, came back from a leg injury in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Fulham. But Brown, 23, suffered a hamstring strain which forced him out of the England squad and his latest setback has placed a question mark over the Old Trafford club’s crucial set of fixtures.
Phil Thomas, The Sun
Becks vows to lift spirits
David Beckham has pledged to bring a little happiness to the nation and the armed forces out in Iraq by securing positive results in the upcoming Euro 2004 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Turkey. Like his team-mates, the England captain is uncomfortable talking about war and football in the same sentence, but at the same time he is fully aware of the power of sport to provide an escape from grim realities. He said: “We shouldn’t really talk about war and football in the same breath, but if we can bring some sort of happiness through our results, against Liechtenstein and Turkey then that would be good. It would be nice to put smiles back on people’s faces.
David Hytner, Daily Express
