Man Utd in Panthinaikos talks for £8M Ninis

• Poignant

  5 Sep 10, 17:44

  Fergie to beat Real and Milan to Greek wonderkid

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  Manchester United are set to capture Greek wonderkid Sotiris Ninis at the end of the season.

  United are ready to trigger an £8million clause in the 20-year-old Panathinaikos contract after Sir Alex Ferguson identified him as the answer to his team’s need for a creative midfielder.

  The Reds have already opened negotiations with the Athens club about taking Ninis to Old Trafford for next season.

  Ninis, who was born in Albania, is already a regular in Greece’s international team.

  He is also one of three club captains at Panathinaikos and has attracted interest from Real Madrid and AC Milan.

  But United are now in pole position after telling the Greek side they will pay the get-out clause in the four-year contract that Ninis signed in 2008.

  Any Greek club that wants Ninis has to pay £15million. But that figure drops to £8million if he moves abroad.

  Ferguson is trying to bring in fresh talent from around the globe in relatively modest deals as the financial realities brought about by the Glazers’ ownership of United takes effect in the transfer market.

  United spent £25million this summer to recruit the potential of Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez and Bebe. Ninis fits the same profile.

  Ferguson has made finding a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes, United’s midfield play-maker, a top priority. That’s why United were keen to pursue Germany international Mesut Ozil before he decided to join Real Madrid last month.

  Ferguson is rightly proud of discovering emerging talents. Ninis may even develop like Cristiano Ronaldo.

• CKeer

  5 Sep 10, 22:57

  Ninis is small and nimble at 1.73m. I don't think he can emulate Ronaldo and I seriously do not think United need another winger, which is his primary position although he can play in a more central role where Essien, Mikel, Mireles, Song, and co will steamroll him with ease with his small built.

• Breakingstyle

  6 Sep 10, 17:49

  im pretty sure that his main position is attacking midfielder. fyi arshavin is 1.72cm, scholes 1.70cm.

• CKeer

  6 Sep 10, 20:08

  Originally posted by Breakingstyle:

  im pretty sure that his main position is attacking midfielder. fyi arshavin is 1.72cm, scholes 1.70cm.

  How many Paul Scholes are there in this world? And didn't Arshavin recently admitted that he has lost his sparks?

• Asromanista2001

  6 Sep 10, 22:13

  Scholes no big deal lah...........very consistent but not really that great............he would struggle if he had left Man Utd.........

• CKeer

  7 Sep 10, 22:09

  Originally posted by Asromanista2001:

  Scholes no big deal lah...........very consistent but not really that great............he would struggle if he had left Man Utd.........

  U kidding me?

  Zidane hails Scholes as the best of his generation. Capello wants him back to England's fold at the grand age of 35.