Sir Alex Ferguson

UNITED News: Ryan Giggs set for new Man Utd deal

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is planning on opening contract talks with veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs. 

The Welsh wizard, who is approaching his 20th senior year with the Red Devils, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Gill said: "I wouldn’t be surprised if he extends his contract for another season. "That will be addressed in the next month or so. He has been playing well, keeps himself in great shape and is a wonderful advert for the modern footballer."

Gill also believes manager Sir Alex Ferguson's experience will prove crucial in the run-in for the Barclays Premier League title.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called Giggs an "incredible human being" on Sunday after he made his 600th league appearance for the club against Tottenham.

Sir Alex Ferguson has change of heart over strengthening line-up

According to skysports.com, Ferguson has revealed he could make a single swoop in the transfer window to bolster his Manchester United resources.

However, the Red Devils have recently been linked with a move for Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra, as well as Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson and Newcastle full-back Jose Enrique.

And Ferguson has performed a U-turn on his earlier comments by admitting United could make a solitary signing this month.

Manchester United vs Stoke City Preview

According to blogs.bettor.com, Manchester United scored a hard-fought win against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday when Javier Hernandez came on to score the much needed winner. The Red Devils will be looking to extend their lead at the top when they host Stoke City on Tuesday.

Manchester United have not been at their best this season while playing away from home, and the win against West Brom was just their second away win this season. The league leaders return to Old Trafford after two away games to take on the Potters.

Manchester United may have suffered in away games, but they been remarkable at home. The Red Devils have so far dropped just two points at Old Trafford this season, getting 28 out of 30 possible points – that is five points better than defending champions Chelsea.  If Manchester United manage to win Tuesday’s match, they will be five points ahead of Arsenal and three ahead of Manchester City. Arsenal have played one game more than United, and City have played two games more.

If United win, it will be their sixth consecutive win against Stoke.  The last match in which the two teams met, last October, had a number of similarities to United’s recent game against West Brom.  United took the lead in that game just as they did against the Baggies, followed by Gary Neville getting lucky not to be sent off the field, and then an equalizer from the home team – and last but not least, it was Hernandez who came on as a sub to score the winner in both games. Read more..

UPDATE: Manchester United January 2011 Transfer News

The Telegraph says that Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Holland’s Maarten Stekelenburg head a three-man shortlist to replace Edwin van der Sar, a list which also includes De Gea.

However, the Daily Star is confident that Sir Alex Ferguson is “eyeing a £20million summer move for Pepe Reina as he prepares for life without Edwin van der Sar”.

The Star also says that United’s FA Cup opponents Southampton are determined to keep hold of their starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is the subject of interest from United, Arsenal and Liverpool. However, the paper says he’s out to impress in Saturday’s fourth round tie at St Mary’s.

United read to swoop for De Gea (january 28, 2011)

Manchester United will step up their efforts to land Spanish wonderkid keeper David De Gea after Edwin van der Sar confirmed yesterday that he will retire at the end of the season.

It has been an open secret that Manchester United's Dutch international would call it quits this summer at the age of 40, after a spectacular Old Trafford finale to his long and illustrious career.

Man Utd target Lyon left-back Bastos

Sir Alex Ferguson moves for Lyon’s Michel Bastos as replacement for Patrice Evra. Manchester United have put Lyon left-back Michel Bastos on their list of possible targets to replace Patrice Evra. Sportsmail revealed in December that United had made an enquiry for Benfica’s £25m-rated Fabio Coentrao, wary that Evra is destined for either Real Madrid or Barcelona in the summer. They have also scouted Newcastle’s Jose Enrique who is being monitored by Bayern Munich. Bastos, 27, is a regular in the Brazil squad and was once a target for Tottenham but Lyon now rate him at a costly £20m.

Manchester United are being linked with a move for Benfica defender Fabio Coentrao.

The 22-year-old was linked with United last month but the Daily Mail reports that Sir Alex Ferguson has been alerted to the fact the Benfica are already on the look-out for a replacement with Everton target Taye Taiwo of Marseille and Oscar Wendt of FC Copenhagen among the players they are looking at.

Jordan Henderson From Sunderland


According to menmedia.co.uk, Ferguson has asked to be kept informed about the Sunderland midfielder, who is also a target for City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

The England international is understood to favour a move to United with his chairman, Niall Quinn, admitting  a big money offer could be enough to tempt the Weirsiders to sell.

At the age of 20 Henderson fits perfectly into United’s ethos of buying emerging talents – and a £15m January move could be on with the midfielder crucially eligible to play in Europe.

Anderson’s resurgence in form could tempt Ferguson to hold fire on a move, but he will be aware that a host of other suitors are lying in wait to sign the highly-rated starlet.

The Italian Striker Alberto Gilardino 

According to menmedia.co.uk, The Italian striker has emerged as a recent target – and with Michael Owen likely to leave Old Trafford in January, the 28-year-old would provide an experienced option up front.

With Wayne Rooney continuing to struggle for consistent form and Dimitar Berbatov carrying the brunt of the goal-scoring burden, Ferguson will not want to be left short in the title run-in.

Ferguson has spent the past two summers trying to sign a top class striker, failing to land Karim Benzema in 2009 and David Villa a year later.

Benzema is understood to be a target again at the end of the season, but he could scrap those plans if Gilardino arrives in January for £15m.

West Ham United Ambitious Plan to Sign Michael Owen in January

According to mirrorfootball.co.uk, Avram Grant is putting together an ambitious plan to sign Michael Owen in January. Under-pressure West Ham boss Grant is desperate to strengthen his strike force and Owen is top of the club’s list of targets. Read more..

Manchester United Recall Ritchie de Laet And Josh King From Loan

According to goal.com, Manchester United Recall Duo Ritchie de Laet And Josh King From Loan Spell At Preston North End After Darren Ferguson Sacking. Read more..

£12million New Year move for Lassana Diarra



According to ManUtd.com Diarra is Fergie's kind of Lass.  Alex Ferguson is set to reinforce his Manchester United midfield with a £12million New Year move for Real Madrid's Lassana Diarra. Read more..

Kiko out on loan?



According to ManUtd.com United striker Macheda sparks loan scramble Wolverhampton, Bolton and Fulham are among a clutch of clubs showing interest in Manchester United striker Federico Macheda after his agent revealed he can go out on loan.  Read more..
 

Manchester United and Arsenal fight for next Iniesta transfer from Barcelona



 

According to sportingo.com Manchester United and Arsenal are both keeping tabs on the contract situation of Thiago Alcantara. The Barcelona midfielder, 19, has yet to agree renewed terms on a deal that expires on January 31st, and neither English clubs would hesitate in picking up a phenomal talent on a free transfer. Read more..

Interest in Bayer 'keeper confirmed



According to eurorivals.net Sir Alex Ferguson’s quest for a new goalkeeper (Rene Adler) continues with the impending retirement of current No.1 Edwin Van Der Sar. United have already completed a deal to sign Anders Lindegaard from Danish side Aalesund but still look set to sign a more experienced option. Read more..
  

Re-signing Backham?

About re-signing Beckham, Ferguson said: 'I don't think so with David at his age. I've never signed a player as old as that, have I?' Read more..

Bolton Wanderers vs. Manchester United - Preview

Manchester United Alex Ferguson will be looking to ring the changes again as the Premier League title-chasing Reds on Sunday. After winning a Carling Cup fixture Scunthorpe, United will be looking to their winning ways continue. Standing between their goal of a victory Bolton Wanderers.

The Wanderers have a decent start to the season and will go stiff, especially with Manchester United at the Reebok Stadium. This Bolton side is very different than those played at the Reebok over the years. Ridiculed for their boring, functional and direct style of football under the guidance of Sam Allardyce, they have a long way to improve their style. The main reason for this change is the installation of Owen Coyle as their boss. The former Burnley manager has instilled a confidence to the ball along the ground and please triangles to create opposition to circumvent rather than just hoof the ball to Kevin Davies. The style is not the night come and even now it is a work in progress. Coyle's insistence in playing a certain style applause and his successes on the field too.

It is because of this change in style that players like the lucrative Swede Johan Elmander have the form at the club improved. Martin Petrov, the Bulgarian high-flying also joined the club in the summer in what could prove the bargain of the season.

Coyle is expected to be available again after an accident strongest side in the Carling Cup in midweek, where they slumped to a defeat. Their defeat, ironically, came into the hands of the former club Coyle, Burnley, which he in this bitter fashion. The key question for this contest will be whether Coyle recalls after the Finn Jussi Jaaskelainen returns from suspension. In his absence, stand-keeper, Adam Bogdan is in very impressive form, but it will probably not surprise as the outstanding Finn takes his place back in the side. Kevin Davies is another side to the return after suspension to spearhead an attack that will be expected to score the goals against a wobbly United Defense offer.

United Ferguson himself will be ringing in the changes and it will not surprise if only Rio Ferdinand takes his place in the side against the Trotters. United have four points behind leaders Chelsea beaten hollow those ominous when power of their opponents so far in the season. However, with the defending champions play against Manchester City, United will have the opportunity to make ground, as the London side slip up. In fact, this is one of the few times that Ferguson would actually support his city rivals in every match.

It is for these reasons that big guns like Paul Scholes, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and in-form striker Dimitar Berbatov is expected to return to the side. Despite excellent reputation for United against Bolton could be a potential banana skin in which Alex Ferguson will be looking to avoid. Ferguson will hope that the United defense is stronger this time after the spectacular collapse late in the game against Everton and Liverpool in the mid-game. Ferguson is smart enough to portray their comeback against Liverpool after a defensive lapse as a turning point in the vicinity of a corner.

If United is to keep a clean sheet, they are likely to prevail at the Reebok Stadium. And with important Champions League matches on the horizon, a victory against the Trotters the perfect tonic to keep the momentum going.