Manchester United To Launch £30m January Bid For Serie A Star

Napoli playmaker emerges as top target for David Moyes.

Manchester United could be set to make a bid of £30m in an attempt to land Napoli star Marek Hamsik this January, according to Sports Direct News.

The Slovakian international has established himself as one of the best playmakers in Serie A over the last few years, and continues to impress this season as Napoli look like genuine title contenders under new manager Rafael Benitez.
The 26-year-old contributed an excellent 11 goals and 17 assists for the Italian side last term, and looks the ideal candidate to add some creativity to David Moyes' struggling side.

Read More

Man United, Liverpool and Barcelona in giant battle for £17 million man

Reports have revealed Manchester United and Barcelona are both set to go head-to-head for Atletico Madrid’s Koke who has been described as the next Xavi.

Xavi has been an ever present feature of Barca’s midfield, however they appear to be preparing for the future.

And United and Barcelona are both interested in this promising talent.

According to German paper Bild, Koke has a £17 million buyout clause.

Despite signing a new contract that will see him stay at Atletico until 2018, United or Barca wouldn’t be deterred.

Atletico have had a fantastic start to the season, and currently sit atop of La Liga. (Daily Star)
Liverpool are also eyeing up a move and it will be interesting to see where he ends up

Read More

Klopp wants Man Utd's Kagawa back at Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has declared his intent to bring Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa back to Germany, but won't allow defender Neven Subotic to move in the opposite direction, the Daily Mail has reported.

The Japan international formed an integral part of the Dortmund team that won back-to-back titles from 2010 to 2012, but he has failed to force his way into David Moyes' starting line-up this season, making just one league appearance.

The suggestion has been made that the 24-year-old could be involved as part of a swap deal with Serbia defender Subotic, but Klopp has dismissed the possibility of losing the centre-back. “Jurgen would love to have Kagawa back at the club and had made it clear the door is always open for him,” said a source close to the Bundesliga club.

“Shinji was quite emotional when he left and said he didn’t want to go but couldn’t turn down the chance of playing for United. Now it seems to have turned sour, he would be welcomed back with open arms,” the source continued. “But United can forget about Subotic. When it was put to the powers that be, it was rejected out of hand. Klopp doesn’t want to lose him. He’s only 24, despite all his experience, and is an integral part of the team.

Read More

De Gea was key to title win last season

VDS: De Gea was key to title win last season.

Edwin van der Sar believes successor David de Gea is one of the key reasons behind Manchester United winning last season's Premier League.

De Gea's performances saw him selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and Van der Sar is full of praise for the man that replaced him.

"It is unbelievable," the former goalkeeper, now Ajax marketing director, said. "He came from different league, he was young. He was 20 when he came.

"He came from Spain, he didn't speak the language. There is different food, different tactics, different methods of training.
"Corners and free-kicks, balls in the box - that is different to the Spanish league. It was normal he could have some troubles in the beginning.

"I think the way he turned the corner from January onwards has been a real benefit for United and one of the two or three reasons they won the league.

"His physique is better. He worked really well with (former goalkeeping coach) Eric Steele and the physical coaches and that is the way you improve.

"He is still so young but already experienced. Hopefully he will get a chance in the national team also."

De Gea is already impressing this season, pulling off a world-class save in United's 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday.
It was just their third league win of the season and leaves them ninth in the standings, a point off newly-promoted Hull.

That is hardly the position David Moyes will have wanted to be in after replacing Ferguson, but Van der Sar is not concerned.

"We have had so much success over the years with Ferguson and not even he won the league all the time," he said, speaking at the Leaders in Football conference.

"There is a chance that he might not win in the first season or even the second season, but hopefully they have faith in what he can do.
"I know the directors and the owners are not panicking quickly, so I don't see a problem.
"Of course they are realistic contenders because they have great players, a lot of experience.

"They have a lot of young players coming through as always because United are a team that give young players a chance.

"Maybe a little later than clubs like Ajax, but there is always a chance for the likes of Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans, Rafael."

Read More

Chicharito

Javier Hernandez Balcazar aka Chicharito was signed by Man Utd in the summer of 2010 for a mere 7m which then was deemed too much for an unknown player.
But chicharito showed glimpses of his talent at World cup and after that quickly settled in english football than many predicted.

Chicharito opened his scoring account for utd in the charity shield against chelsea with a bizarre goal as he kicked the ball in his face and deflected it into the net and after that he quickly settled in scoring regularly which prompted Sir Alex to start chicharito ahead of the Top scorer and golden boot winner tgat season Dimitar Berbatov. He ended up scoring 20 goals in his debut season.

STYLE OF PLAY:

Chicharito's style is similar to that of a poacher but along with that he possess immense pace and uses his clever little runs off the shoulder of the last defender very cleverly.

STRENGTH:

Chicharito's vision in front of the goal is extra ordinary and his conversion rate is one to be envied of (0.49 career conversion rate).
Chicharito also has brilliant pace and that in that first five yard sprint he leaves 90% of defender behind combine that with his ever so developing physical strength you'll get a top notch forward.
He is disciplined too hardly picks up a booking.

WEAKNESS:

Gets caught offside too much But with the pace he possess he can give a defender a half a yard as he can beat him easily Has less infield composure and doesnt get too involved in a the build up play.

STATS FROM LASTS SEASON:

Appearances: 36
Goals :18 (Utd's second highest goal scorer)
Shot per goal ratio:0.41
Assists:6
Chances created:47

QOUTES:

" He will score 20 goals this season" Paul Scholes to Sir Alex after watching chicha play in pre season

"There is no doubt Hernandez is a promising player. He is exellent i have watched some games of his on television and he is a Fantastic footballer" PELE

Many this season and previous season claimed that Chicha should be starting more games as last season he had the best goal to minutes played ratio. But the 25 year mexican has competition with Robin Van Persie (30 now) for the No.9 role in the starting line up. And at this stage Robin is far more accomplished than chicha.

But what can Chicha do to get himself ahead of Robin?

He needs to work on his infield composure try getting involved in the build up and help out his midfielders as the stats show above he had only 6 assists and created 47 chances whereas robin clocked in at 11 assists and created 73 chances in all competitions.
If chicharito is able to improve this part of his game he will not only give Robin a run for his money but might be able to nick a starting place ahead of the Dutchman, as chicha is a proven goal scorer he will become a 30 goal striker along with 10+ assists per season.

Read More

Javier Hernandez hints at Manchester United exit

Javier Hernandez has admitted he may have to leave Manchester United in the future in order to play regular first-team football.

• Mexico international desperate to shine under David Moyes
• 'I need more opportunities to showcase what I can do'

Javier Hernández is determined to prove himself worthy of a regular spot with Manchester United.

The striker's late return for pre-season training after appearing in the Confederations Cup for Mexico means he has been one of the players who has struggled to make an impact during David Moyes' first couple of months as United manager. He has made only two starts, plus three appearances as substitute, amounting to a grand total of 34 minutes.

Hernández has still made a positive impact, scoring the only goal in last month's Capital One Cup win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. But he wants more, even if he acknowledges the competition is pretty stiff.

"I am going on four years here at Manchester United and, like I have always said, I am happy to be able to play for one of the best clubs in the world," he said. "I am happy, doing my best every single day to earn more minutes on the pitch. All of us want to be able to contribute our part so this team can win championships."

Yet, with Wayne Rooney remaining at Old Trafford, it is hard to see how Hernández can make the permanent breakthrough he has been craving since arriving from Chivas in 2010. That may eventually force the 25-year-old to look elsewhere in a bid to further his career.

"I strive for that, I am working towards that; earning a spot as a starter," said Hernández, who over the next few days hopes to help prevent Mexico missing their first World Cup since 1990.

"I know my performance on the pitch will allow me to achieve that goal some day either here [in Manchester] or elsewhere for any other club. I just need to be given more opportunities to showcase what I can do."

It is a tricky situation, though, as Hernández clearly relishes the battle for a first-team spot with such stellar team-mates. "What better way to compete anywhere in the world than to compete with them [Rooney and Robin van Persie]?" he said. "The competition inside the team has always been really healthy. That helps a lot. Everyone wants to earn a starting spot."

After such a difficult start to the season, that competition is exactly what United need to push themselves back up the table. "The training and matches coming up will force us to step up and help the team grow both at an individual and collective level."

Read More

David Moyes is ready to offload

Manchester United boss David Moyes is ready to offload Alexander Buttner.

The People says Buttner will be the first big casualty of David Moyes’s managerial reign.
The defender has failed to impress when filling in for Patrice Evra and Moyes is ready to let him go.

Buttner was a shock capture by Sir Alex Ferguson in his final season at Old Trafford but seems to have blown his chance under Moyes.

Read More