Tant qu´on y est, qq rumeurs du 11 novembre du Manchester Evening Standard ^^
=>United´s top ten targets
MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has only a few weeks to focus on his targets as he looks for the perfect player to bolster his strikeforce.
The Reds’ manager isn’t usually a regular spender during the season and he has only bought Andy Cole and Diego Forlan in the winter.
Cole was purchased for a £7m record fee from Newcastle in January 1995 as Ferguson went against his normal plans and attempted to add a new dimension to United’s strike department.
In January 2002 he paid Independiente of Argentina £7.5m for Uruguayan Forlan but the young striker was seen as one for the future as opposed to one to make an instant impact.
Ironically, Forlan’s arrival coincided with Cole’s departure to Blackburn as United’s famed and feared front foursome was broken up.
Fergie was the pioneer of the four-strong senior forward department and now, with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Solskjaer also at Old Trafford, he´s set to complete a new look famous foursome.
But who might Fergie buy when the transfer window opens? Here we run the rule over 10 possible targets.
NAME: Aruna Dindane
CLUB: Anderlecht
AGE: 22
PEDIGREE: Fast, short, tricky and technically gifted Dindane hasn’t been a prolific scorer for Anderlecht but he is improving and has scored two Champions League goals this term.
AVAILABILITY: Sir Alex Ferguson watched Aruna, among others, when he took in Celtic’s European match against Anderlecht last week at Parkhead, though having played in Europe this season he might not be that attractive a target for the January window.
NAME: James Beattie
CLUB: Southampton
AGE: 25
PEDIGREE: England international, who is a proven Premiership hitman. Scored against United this season.
AVAILABILITY: His robust style would take a lot of weight off Ruud van Nistelrooy but Saints will fight tooth and nail to keep him.
NAME: Dong Fangzhou
CLUB: Dalian Shide
AGE: 18
PEDIGREE: Scoring goals in China and has already spent a fortnight on trial at Old Trafford in September. His manager claims United have offered more than a million to capture him.
AVAILABILITY: Dalian Shide won’t stand in Fangzhou’s way and have even suggested a long-term loan deal. But with no experience outside his own country the goalscorer won’t be a January priority.
NAME: Didier Drogba
CLUB: Marseille
AGE: 25
PEDIGREE: Tall, pacy striker with an excellent first touch. Exploded onto the French scene last term with Guingamp when he became third top scorer in the country with 17 goals in 34 matches. Current Champions League top scorer with five goals from four matches.
AVAILABILITY: The Ivory Coast international only joined Marseille in the summer on a five-year contract and if he were to leave Milan and Porto would enter a bidding war.
NAME: Andrei Shevchenko
CLUB: AC Milan
AGE: 26
PEDIGREE: The Ukraine bullet has an impressive Serie A strike-rate and 24 Champions League goals in 48 appearances for Milan and Dynamo Kiev. Scored penalty shoot-out clincher in last May’s European Cup final at Old Trafford against Juventus.
AVAILABILITY: United allegedly had a summer offer rejected by Milan. Shevchenko also apparently has the most complicated contract in world football and would also be cup tied in Europe this season.
NAME: Jermain Defoe
CLUB: West Ham
AGE: 21
PEDIGREE: A future England international, Defoe was West Ham´s best player last season and has started life well in Divisoon One - scoring 11 times already.
AVAILABILITY: West Ham are going for immediate promotion and need their most prized asset. But a £10m bid from the Reds could be too good an offer for the Londoners to turn down.
NAME: Robert Earnshaw
CLUB: Cardiff City
AGE: 22
PEDIGREE: Scored 35 goals for Cardiff last season to create a new club record. Is a Welsh full international and currently leads the First Division scoring stakes with 20 goals in league and cup.
AVAILABILITY: Experienced Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence reckons the exciting youngster is close to being a Premiership player, and it would be hard for the Welsh club to turn down a concrete offer. His complete lack of top flight experience may work against him.
NAME: Luis Fabiano
CLUB: Sao Paulo
AGE: 23
PEDIGREE: Had a brief spell at Roma in Serie A but returned to Brazil. Making a reputation again as a dangerous goalscorer.
AVAILABILITY: AC Milan are also reported to have had scouts monitoring him but Sao Paulo president Marcleo Portugal Gouvea says he’s desperate to keep his star. United have an alliance with the South American club so they already have a foothold – and he would be free to play in European competition.
NAME: Alan Smith
CLUB: Leeds United
AGE: 23
PEDIGREE: The feisty goalscorer is said to be a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson’s, who could channel the England international´s aggresive style.
AVAILABILITY: Leeds are strapped for cash and facing the prospect of relegation would need more money to cushion that blow. Fervent Leeds fan Smith has so far pledged loyalty to Elland Road during the Yorkshire club’s troubled times, but his patience could be wearing thin.
NAME: Louis Saha
CLUB: Fulham
AGE: 25
PEDIGREE: Saha is only just starting to show his full potential after two years spent adapting to the Premiership. The French striker fired 32 goals as the Cottagers sealed promotion in 2001 and has the talent to be a regular scorer in the top flight.
AVAILABILITY: Fulham would be reluctant sellers, but like most clubs would find the lure of cold hard cash too good to turn down. Seven million would be enough to force Fulham´s hand, but Ferguson may feel that the money would be better spent elsewhere.
