Bring on the kids

From today's Sunday Express

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson is poised for an unprecedented £100million-plus summer transfer buying campaign.

The 69-year-old is determined to leave the club in robust health once he decides to retire with a young talented squad capable of winning more trophies.

Despite going to Liverpool today with a team that is the bookies' favourite to win him a record breaking 19th title, Sir Alex know that surgery is needed in the summer if United are to maintain their high standards of the past decades.

It’s why he is ready to use the chequebook once the next transfer window opens.

United lead the chase for Tottenham ace Gareth Bale and will open up with a £30m offer. Aston Villa’s Ashley Young is bound for Old Trafford for £20m, after Ferguson narrowly missed out on snapping him up in January.

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson is another likely capture for £15m, though Michael Carrick could be included in the deal despite having recently signed a new contract. United are in for Everton’s emerging star Jack Rodwell too.


The parlous state of the Goodison finances means the board would be hard-pressed to reject a £20m offer for Rodwell, especially with Arsenal also expressing an interest.

Ferguson has also told Southampton that he will beat any offer or personal terms for exciting teenage winger Alex Chamberlain, meaning the Saints flyer is likely to land at United for around £10m.

And with United also intent on spending at least £10m on a top-line keeper at the end of the season to replace the retiring Edwin van der Sar, Ferguson is committed to a summer outlay of more than £100m.

So Fergie 'apparently' trying to buy all the best of the established British youngsters. Would be very surprised if he got even two of the players mentioned there.

They'd all be good signings but at the moment the only player I really do see us signing is Ashley Young.