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 9 - 28 of 68

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  1. uutech3: The words "coastal, property and­ Berkshire" spring to mind: Dream on.

    From Colonel K, on Tue 30 Jun 1:04PM

  2. valencia is a great buy...United will give him the­ support of the great midfielders and forwards that are­ there. He will fit in well, i dont know why people keep­ saying that united shouldnt buy him because he wont­ score as many goals as Ronaldo...Do you honestly think­ that Fergueson is buying him as a replacement for­ ronaldo to score 20 goals a season? or is he building­ another type of play to try and in corporate certain­ players more? I think that is what he is doing,, trying­ to build another type of play not replacing ronaldo­ with valencia.

    But then again i am not surprised with­ people still doubting fergueson, people were saying he­ is crazy to buy Carrick, Tevez and Bebatov and­ Heargreaves (dont know if i spelt that right), Yet he­ has been winning more trophies every year since they­ have been there thats a fact. I cannot not say the same­ for most clubs.

    From Sean V, on Tue 30 Jun 12:54PM

  3. keep neville cutting the grass !!fergs can keep his 2­ purps polished for another season,greedy @#$%!!!

    From nlwarburton, on Tue 30 Jun 12:48PM

  4. number 7 for benzema.

    From zahor, on Tue 30 Jun 12:45PM

  5. uutech3 utd will have the title again this season and­ plus chelsea players havent played a premier league­ game with its new manager as he could do a scolari lol

    From Paul T, on Tue 30 Jun 12:42PM

  6. haha this loser ronaldo replacement?? ..just wanna see­ man utd without ronaldo..look like title going to­ chelsea,liverpool,arsenal...and united under man­ city..haha

    From uutech3, on Tue 30 Jun 12:34PM

  7. No, United made a £68 million profit on Ronaldo, no­ swapping was involved apart from for funds... ­ Valencia, not Ronaldo material granted, can still make­ a difference to a new and refreshed United team next­ season. You know jack sh-i-te jcservice2003 la'.

    From Colonel K, on Tue 30 Jun 12:32PM

  8. OH HOW MANURE FANS MAKE ME LAUGH..IF CETTY WERE TO BUY­ THIS VALENCIA WE WOULD GET SLATED TO F&*%K FOR­ BUYING A NOBODY, BUT BECAUSE MANURE R BUYING HIM HE IS­ A GREAT BUY.

    EVEN IF U DISAGREE WITH ME U R STILL­ WRONG, UTD MORONS, THOUGH NOT ALL OF U.

    From bryanshaw68, on Tue 30 Jun 12:27PM

  9. I think 7 will be saved for Benzema, he'll be a­ much bigger signing than Valencia. Benz 7 Series? :o

    From G, on Tue 30 Jun 12:20PM

  10. Not gonna believe anything until there is talk of pens,­ contracts and medicals being under waay... This­ probably isn't the most popular theory, but why­ won't Fergie put a bargain bid for Tuncay Sanli for­ £5 to £10 million - probably get the same work rate as­ Tevez, more goals and for a third of the price... ­ Probably show more passion and commitment than­ Berbaslob too?

    From Colonel K, on Tue 30 Jun 12:18PM

  11. We will see just how much faith Fergie has in him when­ he is given his shirt number. If he is given the number­ 7 it will mean he is wearing the same shirt as some of­ Old traffords best ever players, Beckham, Ronaldo,­ Robson, Cantona, Best. If his given 12 + that means­ there is a Bigger name on the way that will surely be­ given the sacred number 7 shirt.

    From james b, on Tue 30 Jun 12:09PM

  12. i hope that man united do you scousers again, not­ coming from manchester or being a united support, or­ any other premiership team i hope this season they give­ you scouse clowns a good kick in and take the title­ again.....

    From LAMBRETTA, on Tue 30 Jun 11:44AM

  13. I agree with the person who said we should get Obafemi­ Martins. Hes quick, has a killer shot, has quick feet,­ is very acrobatic and wouldnt cost us an arm and a leg,­ yet he would have big returns.

    We need a dribbler­ upfront, seriously. No more shoot and run characters.­ Nani. i dont know where his prob could be, but he isnt­ thaat bad. Anderson is OK,

    From Batiany, on Tue 30 Jun 11:40AM

  14. jcservice2003, no1 is comparing him to that of ronaldo,­ wait till september 1st before you make any more­ stupid comments, just remember we are the champions of­ england for three years running, any player can be­ replaced

    From JACK, on Tue 30 Jun 11:09AM

  15. valencia will score 15 plus goals for hes first season­ and then 20 plus goals the season after because he wont­ be defending loads like he was at wigan

    From Paul T, on Tue 30 Jun 11:06AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    valencia won't get 20 goals a season nor will­ rooney a europa cup spot if were lucky

    From zynky, on Tue 30 Jun 10:51AM

  17. trust me guys valencia will gun next season.

    From man_utdforever, on Tue 30 Jun 10:45AM

  18. Over all it's a good write up but describing­ Berbatov as inconsistent was off the mark. The lad did­ okay and will surely even improve next season. No­ intelligent coach will rate Tevez higher than Berbatov.

    From Gabriel, on Tue 30 Jun 10:42AM

  19. Well thats a Good signing but is it a Good replacement­ for Ronaldo? Man U please fall fall well next season

    From FRANCIS, on Tue 30 Jun 10:33AM

  20. lee - great observation, I think Obafemi would thrive­ with the sort of service United can provide.­ jcservice2003 clearly a muppet scouser, worry about­ your own team loserfool. And don't call him Fergie­ its SIR ALEX to cretins like you. Sir because he has­ achieved more than you can dream of (don't bleat on­ about your history, different era and irrelavant to the­ modern game)

    From XS, on Tue 30 Jun 10:32AM
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