Premier League - United close to Valencia deal

Eurosport - Tue, 30 Jun 13:07:00 2009

Manchester United are inching closer to making Antonio Valencia their first signing of the summer.

FOOTBALL winger Luis Antonio Valencia, who insisted he is happy at Wigan despite reported interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid. - 0

The Wigan winger has cut his summer break short to try and complete his move to Old Trafford.

And the £16 million deal is expected to be confirmed this week as Sir Alex Ferguson begins the task of spending the world record £80m fee United have just banked for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

They hope Valencia, who scored just three Premier League goals last term, might be able to replicate the pace and dribbling ability of Ronaldo. However, getting anywhere near his goals output might be far more difficult, a factor emphasised at the JJB Stadium last month when the Ecuador flyer missed a sitter in the defeat to United.

Certainly most United fans - and probably Ferguson himself - would be disappointed if there were not further signings by September 1 given the problems he is juggling with.

As well as Ronaldo, the loss of Carlos Tevez, seemingly bound for rivals Manchester City, leaves another gap.

Karim Benzema has been touted as a potential replacement but has already given vibes he may prefer to go elsewhere, and even then in another year's time.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is another option but the Dutchman is more of a Ruud van Nistelrooy-type figure and Ferguson has been building his teams in a different way of late.

At the back of Ferguson's mind will also be the knowledge Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar are all preparing for what is expected to be their final season of top-flight action, with Gary Neville not far behind.

Twelve months ago, United appeared to have the replacements in place but doubts have emerged over Nani, Anderson and Ben Foster, leaving Ferguson with more big decisions to make. There are further question marks over midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who is hoping to return from two years wrecked by a tendinitis problem, and record signing Dimitar Berbatov, who was inconsistent in his debut season.

PA Sport

Comment 49 - 68 of 68

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  1. getachew: getalife.

    From Close The Door Behind You Rafa., on Tue 30 Jun 7:19PM

  2. i'm not sure with this squad if united can make it­ to top 4
    for a place in CL

    From getachew44, on Tue 30 Jun 6:20PM

  3. city will take uniteds place in the table

    From getachew44, on Tue 30 Jun 6:19PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    by the way who is running this club
    if it is ferguson,­ i think he is getting older
    last season the signing of­ berba with big money was big mistake
    now they throw­ tevez and sell ronaldo to bring valencia, it looks­ strainge to me
    i thought they will go for ribery and­ benzema to replace ronaldo and tevez
    with this­ situation you will never pass the group stage of CL.

    From getachew44, on Tue 30 Jun 6:01PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    football times are good haha when the ladyboy gets­ replaced with valencia hahaha gonna win @#$% all you­ thick £$$%^

    From johnpercival80, on Tue 30 Jun 6:00PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    united will be very weak without tevez and ronaldo
    real­ madrid will trash them with no mercy
    they are busy with­ low rated players like valencia

    From getachew44, on Tue 30 Jun 5:49PM

  7. good we need a transfer NOW to replace ronaldo and­ valencia is sorting out a medical for monday 18:00pm

    From TR, on Tue 30 Jun 5:26PM

  8. breaking news manchester ut have had a bid accepted of­ no more than 15 million for steven gerrard and xavi­ alonso

    From Paul T, on Tue 30 Jun 5:25PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Scumchester will win NOTHING next year without the­ Portuguese ladyboy. Shrek is really good, but those 1-0­ results were almost all due to Ronnie's talent.­

    Liverpool - Champions League
    Chelsea -­ Premiership
    Arsenal - FA cup

    From Fergie_in_2_Years_Time, on Tue 30 Jun 4:59PM

  10. Just a general opinion.

    Why all the debate anyway?­ Lets face it, there is no player available at the­ moment who is good enough to come to MUFC so why the­ fluck can't Sir AF just stick with what he's­ got for a season, play players in their natural­ positions and stop flucking around with the open place­ rotation rubbish.

    Lets face it, most teams would kill­ for MUFC's current squad.

    Plenty good enough to­ bury the current lack lustre Cockney and Scouse­ opposition and certainly hold their own in Europe.

    From Tony H, on Tue 30 Jun 4:36PM

  11. MEEESTAR SPITFIRE...I IS ALWAYS WORK IT OUT IN DA­ BEDROOM

    From paddy_buy_yours, on Tue 30 Jun 4:30PM

  12. paddy_buy_yours work it out..

    From LAMBRETTA, on Tue 30 Jun 4:26PM

  13. MEEESTAR SPITFIRE...PLEASE WOT IS DIS SLAGS..ME NO­ UNDERSTAN

    From paddy_buy_yours, on Tue 30 Jun 4:20PM

  14. HALLO MEESTAR Gi5...DIS IS PLENTY TRUE WOT YOU DID SAY

    From paddy_buy_yours, on Tue 30 Jun 4:00PM

  15. Paddy buy yours: It's better to have loved and to­ have lost, than to have ever supported Liverpool FC,­ mind you anything's better than supporting­ Liverpool FC.

    From Close The Door Behind You Rafa., on Tue 30 Jun 3:48PM

  16. Valencia is just a backup player .
    He is not the­ replacement for Ronaldo .
    Never will .
    I have no idea­ why Ferguson is attracted to this infamous young winger­ .

    Hope Ferguson know what he is doing .
    Get more high­ profile signings .

    ManUtd 4ever !

    From ahn_sohee, on Tue 30 Jun 3:48PM

  17. paddy_buy_yours you need slags are us dot c. -. m

    From LAMBRETTA, on Tue 30 Jun 3:06PM

  18. I AM LOOKIN FOR NICE LADY FOR SEXY TIME

    From paddy_buy_yours, on Tue 30 Jun 2:56PM

  19. optimus prime sorry chap, should have put me specs on,­ i want the green chicken on the liver building to melt­ down for scrap.......

    From LAMBRETTA, on Tue 30 Jun 2:55PM

  20. come to united

    From Mandy, on Tue 30 Jun 2:50PM
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