Breaking News
Manchester United have announced the signing of Mame Biram Diouf, a 21yr old striker from FC Molde for an undisclosed fee.
Diouf will remain at FC Molde until January and then join up with his new teamates in the next transfer window. Diouf has been with Molde for 3 seasons scoring 38 times in 73 appearances for the Norwegian club.
United have had their eye on Diouf for a couple of years now, and were ready to bring him in next summer but had their hand forced by other bids being lodge for Diouf in recent weeks. Luckily for United they have had a fantastic relationship with Molde (they bought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from them in 1996) and so the Norwegians made United aware of the other bids.
So despite Sir Alex Fergusons insistence that United would have no more transfer activity, they have swooped to land the highly rated youngster who has represented his native Senegal at Youth, Under 21 and Olympic levels and has recently been courted by the French Football Association.
End of Business??
Despite Fergies claims that after the signing of Diouf the transfer window is shut to him, it is expected he will still look to bring in another high calibre striker. The signing of Michael Owen was a nice piece of business for United and all indicators are that he is fighting fit, however Sir Alex will not be taking any chances and will want more than Federico Macheda or Danny Welbeck as backup.
Fergies rants about the spiralling costs of transfers and his declaration that United will have no more signatures is simply a way to keep rumours at bay and stop any potential signings having inflated prices slapped on them.
Klass Jan Huntelaar is still on Uniteds radar as Real Madrid seem to be lowering their asking price and, judging by the fact that Frazier Campbell has been allowed to leave and Danny Welbeck will be sent on a season long loan to a Championship side shortly, is further indication that Sir Alex will want a little more depth to the striking rotation.
Furthermore don't be too surprised if another Midfielder winds up as a new addition to Uniteds ranks, doctors and coaches alike are still unconvinced that Owen Hargreaves knee troubles are behind him. Hargreaves has been left out of Uniteds tour of the Far East (sadly curtailed due to Terrorist Activity) and will not be anywhere near fit until at least September. This has led to speculation Ferguson and his staff will try to pick up a bargain defensive minded player to compete with Darren Fletcher, the likes of Marcos Senna, Christian Poulsen and even Patrick Vieira are all possibilities perhaps even on loan.
Good Ow-men?
Pardon the Daily Star type play on words but I couldn't resist!
Of Uniteds summer signings only one has so far been issued with a squad number, and that is Michael Owen who has been given Uniteds legendary No.7 shirt. Whilst some people don't believe in lucky numbers or any such voodoo nonsense, there is no denying that the No.7 is of massive importance in Old Trafford folklore.
Goerge Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been regular wearers of the famous shirt, and if Owen can reciprocate anywhere close to the output/status of any of those players then his stint at United will be a distinct success.
And Finally.......
At exactly this time next month we will all be sat reflecting on the opening weekend of the NEW Premiership season. The waiting is almost over, and all the painstaking searches of websites, teletext and newspapers can stop as we will have actual football back!
Will United miss Ronaldo? Can the Top Four be broken? Which signing will flop or succees....the answers will begin in a month!
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