A round-up of news and gossip relating to Manchester United over the past 24 hours.
Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Shinji Kagawa after the Japanese scored the winner in the 1-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua. “His awareness of receiving the ball, his speed in turning and how he attacks defenders is an asset to us,” the United manager said of the man of the match. The former Dortmund player scored in the 68th minute with a deflected volley after being set up by Bebe.
Manchester United are preparing a bid for Everton full-back Leighton Baines but have set a £12m limit on securing the player. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted last week that the club were looking to provide cover for 31-year-old Patrice Evra but with Everton’s value of Baines at £17m, a move seems uncertain. Everton meanwhile will offer Baines an improved contract to end clubs’ pursuit of their left-back.
Manchester United have postponed the $300m flotation of the club in New York citing the volatile states of world markets. United currently hold £432m in gross debt due to the leveraged buyout the Glazers took on when acquiring the club. Plans had been in place for the club to float on the Singapore and Hong Kong stock markets as well in attempts to raise revenue for the club to be more competitive in the transfer market.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust has, in response, demanded the Glazers to launch a full flotation of club shares. More militant, anti-Glazer supporters have called on the club to fully float with the desired effect of shares in supporters’ hands.
Benfica President Luis Felipe Vieira has said reported Manchester United target Axel Witsel will only be sold for £31m. The player has a buy-out clause at this amount in his contract and after an impressive season in Portugal, the 23-year-old has caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs.
Rivals Manchester City have identified Ezequiel Cirigliano as a replacement for outgoing Nigel De Jong. The River Plate player was linked with United earlier this week but now face competition from City rivals. United are prepared to table a £4m bid for the 20-year-old dubbed the ‘new Mascherano’.
Sao Paulo director Adalberto Baptista has insisted that negotiations with clubs over Lucas Moura are now over. United are reported to have had a £27m bid rejected but yesterday the club’s vice-president, Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes claimed the club were still open for more negotiations. The transfer saga appears to have come to an end.
images: © Schwenke, © Paolo Camera
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