Bale to Spurs instead of Man Utd?
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Reports suggest Southampton defender Gareth Bale is set for a medical at Tottenham, with a view to joining the Londoners in the next few days.
The 17-year-old Welsh international has allegedly been the subject of interest from United and Arsenal as well as Martin Jol's side, and Southampton's failure to secure promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs seems to have paved the way for his departure.
Sir Alex Ferguson's interest in Bale was a recurring transfer rumour throughout last season as the teenager turned in a string of top performances for club and country.
Previously, Southampton boss George Burley had expressed his desire to keep hold of the highly-promising defender, who can also play further forward.
"The position has not changed," he told www.saintsfc.co.uk. "I want to keep him for at least another season and we will be speaking to him, his family and his agent in the next week or so to see how they feel about it."
"It would do him good to stay another year and to play regularly, but we need to discuss things with his advisors."
It now seems Bale's ambition for top flight football will take him to White Hart Lane. -
naturally..
in MUFC, got Heinze, Evra and MSilvestre...
just hope that MUFC doesn't regret this and in future, buy this player at twice the price.. -
haha...maybe going for Bale was a red herring...the real target - Micah Richards....
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imagine, need to neg. with Thaskin..Originally posted by red_amoeba:haha...maybe going for Bale was a red herring...the real target - Micah Richards.... -
United on back foot in Bale race
Stuart Mathieson
24/ 5/2007
UNITED'S left-back merry-go-round could grind to a halt if Southampton's Gareth Bale is snapped up by Tottenham instead of the Reds.
All United's senior No 3s - Gabriel Heinze, Patrice Evra and Mikael Silvestre - are interesting foreign suitors.
Clubs in Italy, France and Spain had been alerted to a potential mini-clearout to make way for 17-year-old Welsh international Bale's arrival.
But the Premiership champions are going to have to be quick if they still want to add Bale to the squad as Tottenham have leapt to the head of the queue with a bid reportedly accepted. Spurs have had a bid for Bale on the table since the January transfer window.
They have reportedly offered £6m in cash and then add-ons that would take the fee eventually up to around £10m.
Saints want money in quickly to keep their head above water and though manager George Burley is still talking up the possibility of keeping Bale it is believed the club have resigned themselves to losing him.
The player has just one-year left on his contract and Southampton do not want to lose out on a windfall next summer when he'd be a free agent.
Bale had been for talks at White Hart Lane in January but decided to stay on until the end of the season at St Mary's Stadium.
But Tottenham's bid still stands and they are said to now be in pole position.
Interest
If United are still keen they cannot afford to dally but if their interest has cooled, then it could put the brakes on sales.
Heinze, Evra and Silvestre, who have all contested the left-back berth this campaign, are all on various shopping lists for the summer.
United’s 2005 Player of the Year Heinze is the most likely departure as he can buy out the remainder of his two-year contract by law having served three years of the five-year deal he signed in 2004 when moving from he signed for £7.9m from Paris St Germain for £7.9m.
Now Juventus, long-term suitors of the Argentinian, are back in Serie A a move to Italy could tempt Heinze.
Valencia are also understood to be monitoring his situation at Old Trafford, which is no longer as rock-solid as it once was.
EvraÂ’s injuries forced him to concede the left-back battle late on after his early-season form won him FergieÂ’s vote. But now he is in BarcelonaÂ’s sights.
The Spaniards are looking to replace Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and are impressed by EvraÂ’s speed and attacking ability from defence.
Silvestre wants to remain at Old Trafford but Lyon are keen again, having been rejected by the defender in January 2006.
If United trump TottenhamÂ’s bid for Bale then one of the current left backs is almost certain to depart.
Even if they donÂ’t Heinze might voluntarily trim the numbers in the department anyway.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1007/1007645__united_on_back_foot_in_bale_race.html -
Id take Richards than him..
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Why is SPURS so rich !!!
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cause they smart, buy low and then sell high to rich club..Originally posted by pierre^^:Why is SPURS so rich !!!
look at carrick.. -
and wonder how come suddenly, MUFC so quiet..
like went under sea level....must be some under-ground negotiations..
hopefully, SAF or DavidGill can surprise us the good way. -
they dont buy players who are overrated instead they buy bargain players who can somehow perform.
except for Berbatov -
I read that Fergie is reluctant to pay £6m in cash and then add-ons that would take the fee eventually up to around £10m for Bale.
I'd like to see Bale in Old Trafford since we're lack of quality players on the left. He has huge potential to fill up the slot.
Also, be realistic, Richards is never going to play for United and i doubt he'll even want to play for us cos of the club's rivalry.
Cheers.
CK -
well, bale gone.. who's next united??
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sigh, i felt he was a pretty good talent.
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i find heinze good when evra got himself injured. he clear quite a lot of dangerous ball. imo should have stay on with him. on the other hand evra seems to be a bit shaky after his injuries.
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i feel heinze's defending is much better than evra but evra is better at going forward.Originally posted by givemeluck:i find heinze good when evra got himself injured. he clear quite a lot of dangerous ball. imo should have stay on with him. on the other hand evra seems to be a bit shaky after his injuries. -
Fergie is a transfer nut. Surrendering to seller's demand, went for the wrong players, missing out on huge prospects, 'Nuff said.
Cheers.
CK -
He is too expensive lah for a 17 yrs old... United already spend 17m on Owen and they need a striker and a winger more important... Somemore that position they already got 3 able players fighting for 1 spot... I think he waited but Fergie didn't went in for him at the end.
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I think 5m (could be a potential 10m) for a huge prospect is every bit worth it. It's always better than forking out huge sum of money in the later part to buy that player.Originally posted by zocoss:He is too expensive lah for a 17 yrs old... United already spend 17m on Owen and they need a striker and a winger more important... Somemore that position they already got 3 able players fighting for 1 spot... I think he waited but Fergie didn't went in for him at the end.
Also, Silvestre is unreliable, Heinze is almost 30 and Evra's defending is not perfect enough for the premiership.
United lacks depth on the left. Also, Bale can play left midfield as well. I'm willing to give young prospect a shot at Giggs' position so long as it's not Richardson. 
Cheers.
CK