Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo named as Manchester United summer transfer targets.
Manchester United have money to spend this summer, and according to stories in this morning’s newspapers have either Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale in mind as the players to further strengthen an already strong title winning squad.
The Red Devils cantered to this season’s Premier League, having lost the previous campaign to arch rivals Manchester City on goal difference, and Sir Alex Ferguson immediately appeared determined that it would not happen again.
The signing of Robin van Persie illustrated that, and Man Utd seem set to continue their heavy reinforcement of firepower this summer.
The Daily Star report that Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has told current Old Trafford stars that he wants to rejoin his former club, with a £65 million fee mooted.
With an incredible 199 goals scored in 196 appearances for Real Madrid, there is no doubt that Ronaldo would improve Manchester United considerably, but at 28 years of age, he has perhaps half a decade longer left at the highest level, and the club would have to think long and hard before committing that £65m.
The Sunday Mirror claim that Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur is Sir Alex Ferguson’s top transfer target of the summer.
The Spurs star has scored 20 Premier League goals this season, winning him both the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards, and proved his value to the White Hart Lane club with yet another incredible strike against Southampton to win his club three crucial Premier League points with just minutes to spare.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy values Bale at £60m, but may be reluctant to sell to another club in the same division, and will hope that Real Madrid’s interest materialises.
Of the two, whilst Ronaldo is certainly closer to the finished product, Bale might be the better signing.
Aged just 23 to Ronaldo’s aforementioned 28, Bale is still improving at an astronomical rate, and could become a player for his next club to build around.
It is fair to say that Spurs’ current team are not yet contenders for the Premier League or UEFA Champions League trophies he craves, and he may elect to push for a move if Tottenham do not reach the UEFA Champions League.
Upon being queried on whether funds were available for a big name signing, Ferguson was quoted in both the Star and Mirror as responding: “It probably is. The Glazers have been great – every time I have asked for anything, they have delivered.
“If I was to ask about going for a certain player now, I think they would do it. There has been a wind change. I could maybe go for a top player, if that’s possible.
“It doesn’t matter where they play – if you get a top player in it improves it. We had Chicharito Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney last summer, but we still signed Robin Van Persie.
“We’ve won the league because we’ve got a good, strong squad and I think we’ll add to it.”
COMMENTS