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Fantastic Four fit the bill for Ferguson

With £80million burning a hole in Sir Alex Ferguson's sky rocket, TEAMtalk's Ian Watson suggests what Manchester United could do with the cash.

With Cristiano Ronaldo destined for Spain and Carlos Tevez packing his bags, many say the duo's exits are a sign that Manchester United's dominance of English football has run its course.

Some people never learn apparently. Those writing off United have once again forgotten that in Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils have at the helm the hungriest and most successful manager in English football. Armed with an £80million transfer warchest, the Scot will certainly fancy his chances of making it four-in-a-row next term.

However having the cash is one thing, spending it properly is a different kettle of fish.

Ronaldo's exit leaves United short of not only a winger or a forward, but more importantly, a matchwinner. A star who can turn a game on its head with a flash a brilliance, a player who can be relied upon to haul the team out of trouble, which is a trick the Portuguese star has performed many times over the past three seasons.

The issue for Ferguson is, regardless of the size of the wedge burning a hole in his pocket, there are very few of those type or quality of players in the world game, and fewer still that might be available.

The Scot has had a year to plan for Ronaldo's exit and it seems that he believes Frank Ribery is the best candidate to fill the number seven shirt at Old Trafford.

That makes sense. Ribery is a player who fits United style well. The Frenchman can play anywhere across the midfield, he's direct, dominates the one v one and he gets goals. Sadly for Ferguson, all those attributes come at a heavy cost, with Bayern Munich rubbing their hands at the prospect of United, Real Madrid and Barcelona preparing for a bidding war.

The presence of the Spanish giants in the auction causes another major problem for Ferguson, and one he perhaps hadn't accounted for. Ribery is said to prefer a move to La Liga to join the parade of the world's finest players so the United boss will have to be at his most persuasive if the 26-year-old is indeed to grace the Theatre of Dreams next season.

If Ferguson can pull off the Ribery deal, much of the £80million received for Ronaldo would have to be deposited straight in Bayern's bank account. But the spend cannot stop there.

Antonio Valencia is said to be a done deal but the Ecuadorian's price tag (in the region of £16million) has raised a few eyebrows. Ferguson obviously rates the Wigan winger very highly, though, and with his style, versatility and age, the United boss sees Valencia's potential as reason enough to splash the cash.

Valencia's pace will also prove crucial next season. With Ronaldo occupying more of a central role for much of the last year, United often lacked a cutting edge in wide areas, which I believe goes a long way to explain their struggles in the final third last term. Valencia appears to be a slightly cheaper equivalent of Ashley Young, who Ferguson rates highly, and a more polished version of Nani, who stalled badly in what was a critical campaign for the Portuguese flyer last term.

Tevez's exit leaves a much smaller hole than Ronaldo but a hole nonetheless. The Argentinian's desire for a new challenge means United are now two bodies short in attack, and Ferguson knows he needs to bring in at least one forward to supplement Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.

Karim Benzema has long been linked with the champions but I'm not certain he is the right man for the job.

First of all, he won't come cheap. To get the Lyon striker, it will mean United having to break their £30.75m transfer record for a player whose record somewhat contradicts his lofty reputation.

The 21-year-old finished joint second in the Ligue 1 scoring charts last term with 17 goals in what isn't one of the strongest leagues in Europe. There is no doubt Benzema has wonderful potential but for that amount of money, United need a more finished article and a player who can hit the ground running in the Premier League.

So what are the alternatives? Ferguson will have identified exactly what type of striker he needs, and in Berbatov and Rooney, he has two forwards brilliant at dropping off the front and playing deeper. What United lack, especially with Ronaldo gone, is an out-and-out goalscorer.

He doesn't have to be tricky or cute outside the box. The United squad is overloaded with that type of player. He does, however, need to know how to work space in the penalty area and have the ability to finish the chances when they come along.

Again, there aren't many around in world football that you wouldn't have to break the bank for. Rooney looks likely to get his chance to shine in a central role next term so whoever comes in might have to be more content to conform to the needs of the squad more than Tevez apparently is.

With that in mind, I believe Ferguson could do worse than look to the North-East.

Tuncay was one of the few positives in Middlesbrough's dreadful season and is thought of very highly within the game. The 27-year-old can finish, possesses the ability to play wide and leaves nothing in the tank when it comes to his work rate, which may go some way to appease the United fans who kicked up such a ridiculous stink over Tevez's exit.

Tuncay is looking for a move away from Teesside and is available for somewhere in the region of £5million, a figure that would likely see United at least recoup their investment or turn a profit in the future. The Turk is cheap, but not as cheap as another goalscorer just a bit further up the A19.

Michael Owen has had a calamitous year and a shambolic stay at Newcastle. But the 29-year-old gets goals.

During his time on Tyneside, the former England striker found the net 26 times in 70 league appearances, a ratio of a goal every two-and-a-half games. That's a not-too-shabby record for a forward playing in a wretched team.

Owen knows his way around a crowded penalty box and that can't be questioned. The serious doubts remain over Owen's fitness record and his desire to rediscover his former glories.

Yes, Owen would be a gamble but what do Ferguson and United have to lose? The former England striker has a lot to prove and if he is as keen to prove himself as he says he is, a hungry striker at the right side of 30, with 40 England goals and on a free transfer is far from the footballing equivalent of going all in with a dud hand.

It's a maverick suggestion, but Ferguson has never been afraid to look beyond the obvious. Given his lack of other options, Owen would surely jump at the chance of playing for United on some kind of performance-related deal and if he can stay relatively fit, he would get goals in a side as creative as United.

A summer shopping haul of Ribery, Valencia, Tuncay and/or Owen would still leave United with loose change from the Ronaldo fee and go a long way to improving United's fluency and potency in attack.

Ribery is the main man, though, and Ferguson must do whatever it takes to tempt the Frenchman to resist the lure of La Liga.

Manchester United Complete Valencia Signing

Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped new signing Antonio Valencia to make a significant contribution to Manchester United's bid for an unprecedented fourth league title on the trot.

United confirmed their first summer arrival this evening as the 23-year-old signed a lucrative four-year contract.

Although the Red Devils have not specified a fee, it is believed they have spent around £16million of the world record £80million banked from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

And, while it is not expected Valencia will represent the end of Ferguson's spending, the United boss is already tipping the South American to make a big impact.

"Antonio is a player we have admired for some time now, having spent the last two years in the Premier League with Wigan," he said.

"I am sure his pace and ability will make a significant contribution to the team."

If nothing else, Valencia's arrival ensures Wayne Rooney should be given the more central berth he craves next season as the Ecuador star is unlikely to venture into the middle quite as much as Ronaldo.

As he has already gone through the Premier League settling-in period after spending two seasons with the Latics, there are no worries over whether Valencia can adapt either.

His lack of English may be a concern initially, although the main doubt of most United fans is a goalscoring return of just seven in 83 appearances for Wigan and four in 34 for his country.

Even though few would expect Valencia alone to match Ronaldo's phenomenal recent output, better will be expected from a player who spent a short time as a team-mate of former United star Diego Forlan at Villarreal.

Forlan's experience proves players of high quality can struggle to make an impact at Old Trafford, although Valencia is looking forward to the opportunity.

"Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me," he said.

"I have enjoyed my time at Wigan but I am thrilled to have the chance to challenge for the biggest honours in club football here.

"Playing in front of 76,000 fans alongside players like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs will be an amazing experience.

"I can't wait to get started."

The first Ecuadorian to play for United will get his first opportunity on a four-match tour of Asia next month, before the Red Devils head for a four-team tournament in Munich.

By the time Ferguson's side wrap up their pre-season programme against Valencia at Old Trafford on August 5 and head to Wembley for the Community Shield showdown with Chelsea, Valencia will have expected to be accustomed to his new surroundings.

Having turned down an approach from Real Madrid, Valencia is clearly keen to make an impact, although it is a measure of the vast sums of money that has been spent at the Bernabeu, what would normally constitute a significant signing - and is a club record for Wigan - is almost being greeted with a shrug of the shoulders.

"I hope the fans at Wigan can understand that I am an ambitious guy and a chance like this might never come again for me," said Valencia, who will be 24 next month.

"I am happy that the club has benefited from the move financially because I owe them such a lot. I have had a great time here."

Benzema is Joining Manchester United - Pjanic

Miralem Pjanic claims Lyon team-mate Karim Benzema is close to completing a £38million move to Manchester United.

Benzema has been a long-term target for United, with Lyon prepared to listen to offers if the France international expresses a wish to move.

Reports had previously claimed that Benzema was willing to spend one more season with Lyon in order to maximise his prospects of playing at the 2010 World Cup.

However, he could now be on his way to Old Trafford after Pjanic revealed the 21-year-old is ready to link up with the Premier League champions.

"Benzema is nearly gone to Old Trafford," Pjanic told Bosnian website Sportsport.

"The English club are willing to pay €45million (£38million) for him and it is just a question of the day when he will move to England.

"He does not have anything against going to Manchester. Our side will be reinforced by Lisandro Lopez, the Argentine forward from Porto."

Real Madrid and Arsenal had also been linked with the striker, but it appears United have won the race to sign the coveted Benzema.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is striving to replace Carlos Tevez following the end of the Argentine's two-year loan and Benzema looks to be his top target.

Ferguson has money to spend following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and wrapped up the signing of Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening.

Wayne Rooney Ready to Fill in The Gap Left by Tevez and Ronaldo

Ever since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United has been announced there has been only one question, "Will the gap left by the £80 Million baby be ever filled?". Now that the Argentinean star striker Carlos Tevez has leave the club there is a huge gap in the striker zone and there are big boots to fill in.

It has been suggested by many that now after this big of a departure, the Manchester United's front man and one of the most dedicated person in the squad Wayne Rooney has to accept the challange and step his game up.

And the England striker feels more than ready to meet that obligation.

"We've lost two key players and obviously I hope we can get a few players in," Rooney told The Times.

"Between them Cristiano and Carlos scored a lot of goals for us last season and the season before, but I would like to think I'm capable of filling that gap.

"I've said before that, if I can play in my right position, I'm capable of doing that."

Rooney has often been asked to operate out wide by manager Sir Alex Ferguson since joining from Everton.

The Liverpudlian is adamant that has prevented him from showing his best form on a consistent basis, and believes the time is right to make a permanent switch to the centre.

"I want to play in the position where I feel I'm best," he said.

"A lot of people think I'm best as a centre forward.

"To play in a Champions League final and to play week in, week out for Manchester United is a privilege and it's something I'm very lucky to be doing, but I don't think playing on the wing I can express myself as much as I like to."

Torres adviced Benitez: We want David Silva, Juan Mata or David Villa from Valencia.

Fernando Torres has revealed his recommendation of three of his Spanish compatriots to Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.

The Spain striker believes the Reds need "small players with quality" to finally wrest the Premier League title from Manchester United and would like Benitez to sign David Silva, Juan Mata or David Villa from Valencia. 

"English football is very difficult because it's very physical and played at a high tempo," Torres said. "We have a fantastic team to play against the big teams and we are competitive. 

"But maybe against those teams lower down we are not good enough. We have to improve that and I think we can. 

"I think we can definitely be stronger at home. We have some very good players but maybe we need other players. I hope Liverpool will bring people like Silva, Mata or Villa. These are small players with quality like United had with Carlos Tevez and also with Paul Scholes. 

"They are clever players and maybe they can make the difference. Yossi Benayoun plays like these kind of players and I hope we can bring more like that so then we have different options to play against all the sides." 

The former Atletico Madrid frontman added: "It was frustrating but football is difficult against the smaller teams. We need players with quality to try to win these matches and I want Liverpool to sign players like this. 

"We finished four points behind United but we are improving. We are getting more points every season. I know that every year we can finish with more points. I have recommended the names to Benitez and I hope we have the money."

Well to me this will be a smart tactic for a club like Liverpool that wants to reach the level of Manchester United in the Premier League but in football most of the times its not about quantity it's about quality, I will suggest that Liverpool sign a ig name rather than going for 3 or 4 players, a good strong big name winger would do good for their hole in wing area that has been poor in recent times.

Well Mr. Rafael Benitez I must say, you can not always depend on Torres and Gerrad, you want another one...

Milan Confirm Contact Over Adebayor

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has revealed he has talked to Arsenal about the possibility of signing striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Rossoneri's first-choice target remains Wolfsburg star Edin Dzeko but with the German Bundesliga club remaining firm that he is not for sale, Milan are starting to look at alternatives.

Galliani indicated on Thursday that they might be interested in Adebayor and it now appears that the Serie A side have stepped up their interest in the Togo international.

"We don't have any agreement with Dzeko," said Galliani. "He is a Wolfsburg player. Dzeko has expressed his liking for a move here but at this moment there are no negotiations yet.

"We wrote to Wolfsburg and they responded that he is not for sale. If Wolfsburg change their minds we have agreed they will call Milan. If they do I am ready to immediately leave and go there.

"There's no fee yet, at the moment Dzeko is not for sale. If he becomes for sale then we will start talking sums.

"Adebayor and (Sevilla striker) Luis Fabiano are the alternatives. For Adebayor there has been a telephone call, during which (Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger was friendly."

Speculation has been rife that midfield duo Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso would be joining former coach Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.

However, Galliani reiterated that no offers have been made for Pirlo, while Gattuso has offered to take a pay cut to extend his stay at the San Siro.

Galliani said: "There have been no offers for Pirlo and Thursday night with Ancelotti was just a dinner between old friends, seeing as Carletto was in Milan for his daughter's graduation.

"Wednesday night I was at dinner with Gattuso who told us that he was ready to reduce his salary.

"He still has two years left on his contract, so it will move to three years, reducing the salary.

"Gattuso is an example, a true man, extraordinary."

Meanwhile, Davide di Gennaro returns from Genoa after Milan won a blind auction to buy out the other club's half of the players' rights.

The Rossoneri also confirmed that they have beaten off competition from several other Serie A clubs to the signature of 18-year-old Treviso striker Gianmarco Zigoni.

Glen Johnson Signed a Four-Year contract With Liverpool

Glen Johnson has agreed a four-year contract with Liverpool after completing his transfer from Portsmouth.

Johnson was a target of ex-club Chelsea and Manchester City but has opted to move to Liverpool where he is expected to be a first-choice selection in the Reds' back four.

The fee is believed to be in the region of £17.5million, but there is some uncertainty regarding expenses still owed to Liverpool from Pompey following Peter Crouch's transfer to Fratton Park.

Manager Rafael Benitez told Liverpool's official website: "We were thinking about bringing in players with quality - that's the first thing.

"He is also English and that is important for the Champions League list. We were thinking about improving the team and Johnson is a very good player who will do that.

"He was important at Chelsea and in the last year at Portsmouth he has improved and is much better.

"One of the main things is his mentality - it's really good. He is a winner. I was impressed with the conversations I had with him. He wants to improve.

"We knew the market was going to be difficult this summer and some of it has been crazy. Manchester City and Chelsea were there - they were making offers.

"We had to be quick and the club acted quickly. It was down to the player whether he chose us or City or Chelsea and he chose us. It was very clear from talking to him that he wanted to play for Liverpool."

Player Profile: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (Kaká)

Full Name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (Kaká)

Nationality: Brazilian
Date of Birth: 24th October 1985
Place of Birth: Brasília, Brazil
Height: 6 ft 1 in / 186 m
Weight: 73 kg
Preferred Foot: Right
International honors: 68 international caps

Previous Clubs: São Paulo (2001–2003), A. C. Milan (2003-2009)
Current Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Last Transfer: Signed from Everton
Last Transfer Fee: £25.6 million
Sponsors: Adidas, Armani,Dolceolce & Gabbana
Position: Attacking Midfielder

Early Life:

• Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite was born in Brasília to Simone Cristina Santos Leite and Bosco Izecson Pereira Leite.
• When he was seven, his family moved to São Paulo.
• There he was discovered by hometown club São Paulo FC, who offered an assignment.
• At the age of 18, Kaká suffered a career-threatening and possibly paralysis-inducing spinal fracture as a result of a swimming pool accident, but remarkably made a full recovery.

Personal Life:

• A devout Evangelical Christian, Kaká became engrossed in religion at twelve: "I learnt that it is faith that decides whether something will happen or not."
• He removed his jersey to reveal an "I Belong to Jesus" T-shirt and openly engaged in prayer moments after the final whistle of Brazil's 2002 World Cup, and Milan's 2004 Scudetto and 2007 Champions League triumphs.
• Kaká is a member of the organization Atletas de Cristo ("Athletes of Christ").
• e has served as an Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations' World Food Programme, the youngest to do so at the time of his appointment.
• Kaká was sworn in as an Italian citizen on 12 February 2007.
• He married his childhood sweetheart Caroline Celico on 23 December 2005 at the evangelical Reborn in Christ Church in São Paulo.
• Their first child, Luca Celico Leite, was born in São Paulo on June 10, 2008.

Football Career:

• Kaká began his club career with São Paulo F. C. at the age of eight.
• He signed a contract at 15 and led the São Paulo youth squad to Copa de Juvenil glory.
• Kaká made his senior side debut in January 2001 and scored 12 goals in 27 appearances.
• The steady European interest in Kaká culminated in his signing with Italian club AC Milan in 2003 for a fee of €8.5 million, described in retrospect as "peanuts" by club owner Silvio Berlusconi.
• Kaká was a part of the five-man midfield in the 2004-05 season, usually playing in a withdrawn role behind striker Andriy Shevchenko.
• Shevchenko's departure to Chelsea for the 2006–07 season allowed Kaká to become the focal point of Milan's offense as he alternated between the midfield and striker positions.
• BBC reported on 13 January 2009 that Manchester City made a bid for Kaká for over £100 million.
• On 3 June 2009, Football Italia reported that newly-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez had offered Milan a ₤68.5 million deal for Kaká,
• On 8 June, Kaká signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid for an undisclosed fee believed to be £56 million
• Kaká cited his reason for his departure as an attempt to help Milan in a period of the team's financial difficulty, and said that Madrid was the only club to where he would have moved.
• He also stated that he had received advice by former Milan teammate David Beckham, and international teammate Ronaldo on making the transfer.

Honors:

Sao Paulo

• Copa São Paulo de Juniores: 2000
• Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 2001
• Super Campeonato Paulista: 2002

Milan

• Serie A: 2004
• Italian Super Cup: 2004
• UEFA Champions League: 2007
• UEFA Super Cup: 2007
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

International

• FIFA World Cup: 2002
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005

Individual

• Revista Placar Bola de Ouro: 2002
• Campeonato Brasileiro Bola de Prata (best player by position): 2002
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2003
• Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2006, 2007
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2007
• UEFA Champions League Bronze Top scorer: 2005/2006
• UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder: 2005
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2006, 2007
• FIFPro World XI: 2006, 2007, 2008
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2006–07
• UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006–07
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2007
• FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2007
• Ballon d'Or: 2007
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2007
• Toyota Award: 2007
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2007
• Onze d'Or: 2007
• IFFHS World‘s Best Playmaker: 2007
• IAAF Latin Sportsman of the Year: 2007
• Time 100: 2008
• Time 100: 2009
• Maracanã Hall Of Fame: 2008
• Samba d'Or: 2008
• FIFA Team of the Year: 2008

"I Did Not Feel Supported After They Signed Berbatov", Said Tevez

Carlos Tevez claims he knew his days at Manchester United were numbered when Dimitar Berbatov joined the club.

The Argentina striker will be playing for a new team next season after turning down a five-year contract to remain at Old Trafford.

And he felt Berbatov's arrival from Tottenham last summer, which provided further competition for places up front, proved to him his future did not lie at United.

"I am not sure where I am going to play, but I know for sure that will not be at Manchester (United)," Tevez told TyC Sports television network.

"When I arrived I had to fight for a place like any other player. My first season was good. I was a starter or a substitute, but I respected that.

"But in my second year, after the match against Liverpool, the coach started to overlook me. The fans supported me a lot so I thought that something was going on as my performances were also good. I was a professional.

"I did not feel supported after they signed Berbatov, because I was the man for the job he was bought to do.

"Last year I was the second top-scorer after Cristiano (Ronaldo). We won two titles (the Barclays Premier League and the Carling Cup) and being shut out like this was something that I could not understand."

Tevez added: "They did not ask me to sign the contract. Ferguson told me not be worried about Berbatov's arrival, but I did not like it when he started to put me on the bench often. I gave my life for the Manchester United shirt."