United and Liverpool close in on Valencia
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WANTED ... Antonio Valencia
MANCHESTER UNITED are favourites to beat Liverpool in the £20million race for Wigan winger Antonio Valencia.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also chasing the Ecuadorian, who seems certain to be the latest player to quit the JJB Stadium for a bigger club this summer.
Sources close to United insist the player wants to move to Old Trafford and Latics boss Steve Bruce said: “It’s inevitable Antonio will leave — but where he goes I’m not quite sure.
“There have been no deals done at all. “I keep reading that story — but nothing’s been done.”
Bruce plans to hold talks with Valencia, 23, after the season finishes but realises he is fighting a losing battle. He has already started the hunt for a replacement but knows bringing in someone of the same standard as the Ecuadorian will be impossible.
The Wigan chief added: “We have to buy potential and work on them.”
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Valencia shows flashes of the style that Ferguson covets
Highly regarded: Valencia is set for a summer move to Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson is not a huge fan of World Cups. Bloated summer tournaments tend to take his players away for too long, inflate values of those he covets and usually take place without the presence of his beloved Scotland.
Right now, though, the Manchester United manager has reason to be thankful for Ecuador's presence at the Germany finals of 2006. Had it not been for their efforts then, Fergie may not now be weighing up the £20million arrival of Antonio Valencia.
It was while he was slogging wearily round Germany with Radio 5 Live that former Wigan manager Paul Jewell spotted 23-year-old Valencia bolstering Ecuador's efforts. Within weeks, the hitherto unknown midfield player was resident at the JJB Stadium.
Valencia now stands on the brink of a move to Old Trafford where - in all likelihood - he will be used as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
A move from the JJB Stadium is 'inevitable' said his manager Steve Bruce this week. When news of interest from United first broke in January, Bruce made him wear a red shirt in training. With a smile, of course.
It certainly has been some journey for a player who only a matter of four years ago was playing his football to relatively little fanfare in Spain.
What stands before him now represents a much sterner challenge and Valencia will need to produce a little of what he showed in flashes last night if he is to take his football to the next level.
Built like a middle-weight boxer, Valencia is nevertheless 'sprinter quick'. That became apparent in only the second minute. Scampering on to a clearance and quickly gaining a yard on Nemanja Vidic, his balance and upper body strength matched his turn of pace impressively.
Sadly his finish was rather less polished and passed the wrong side of the post by a yard. Standing in the rain on the touchline - he always stands up when it is getting nervy - Ferguson must not have known whether to smile or grimace. So he did neither. He just chewed.
Soon after - as Wigan troubled United persistently on the break - Valencia robbed Patrice Evra to begin a move that eventually gave Maynor Figueroa an opportunity to shoot over.
Then, seconds before the interval Valencia was dashing devilishly at United's retreating defenders again, this time combining terrifically to set up scorer Hugo Rodallega on the edge of the area. This time the shot was dragged wide.
Ferguson has always liked pace in his players. It is pretty much a pre-requisite these days. In Valencia, however, he would also appear to be on the verge of taking a player with a work ethic certainly not always associated with Ronaldo.
Last night - as United laid relentless siege to the Wigan goal during the last half hour - Valencia fulfilled his defensive duties, doubling up with Mario Melchiot to shackle Wayne Rooney and restrict the advances of Evra.
It takes something pretty special to impress Ferguson but last night Valencia will have done so. Jewell - shamefully unemployed these days - may have found him something.
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So Man Utd Win?
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Originally posted by Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1):
So Man Utd Win?
has to be Man Utd lah...Wigan chairman got SAF's poster in his office you know...