Player swap deals

[KingSingh]

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich both want Ruud van Nistelrooy and united are refusing to budge on their valuation of ruud which is understandable considering sheva went to chelsea for 30 million pounds.

I think though that united would be better off having a player come the other way in order to off set the rest of the money. This is of course pure speculation but here are some deals that i think are realistic and would help out team:

Ruud for 8 million and owen hagreaves

Ruud for 8 million and julio baptista

Ruud for 5 million and cicinho

any other ideas??

[Schmeichel#1]

Ruud for 8 million and Gravesen?

[KingSingh]

the problem with graveson is his age. I think united should be looking at someone in their mid twenties not a stop gap that will have to be replaced after a few years

[manutdc]

I think United need to realize that 10m-12m is already a fantstic price for Ruud, considering his age as well as his recent poor form. They should take the money they're being offered, as they won't ever get the 15m they want.

Either way, regarding the players...

Hargreaves would be a good buy if he wants to come and he can perform like he did in that match against Portgual consistently.

Julio Baptista I doubt would want to come, since it's only been a year since he's been at Real, and if he would go to England it would be to Arsenal.

Cicinho is a liability in defense, like many Brazilian wingbacks who are excellent going forward and nothing more.

[Schmeichel#1]

Yeah, i'd tend to go for Hargreaves...

[Vinnie Jones]

I think United need to realize that 10m-12m is already a fantstic price for Ruud, considering his age as well as his recent poor form. They should take the money they're being offered, as they won't ever get the 15m they want.

Are you serious? Johnson 9m, Shev 30m. Which of these guys scored more goals than Ruud last season? I realize that he is a bit lazy, but who do you want in the box getting a pass? I like that they are digging in and not relaxing on the price they want. Real think they can have anyone they want.

But in trying to stay with the topic
at least 7 million and Baptista
or 9 million and Hargraeves

[manutdc]

Absolutely serious. Ruud's already 30, and he hasn't shown any good form for pretty much this entire year.

Johnson is 24 or 25, something around there. And not to mention, he's also English - we all know the premium that goes with buying English players.

Shevchenko only went for that price because Chelsea can afford it, and Milan knew that. Milan didn't need to sell or want to sell, either, so they jacked up the price accordingly. It'd have been done to us back when we were splashing cash around with Veron, Ferdinand, etc..

[Vinnie Jones]

I agree with you on the points concerning Johnson and Shev but I stand by Fergies evaluation of Ruud's worth. He did have a somewhat dissappointing season last year even though he scored over 20 goals. My question to you is how many 20 goal scorers are out there? He is proven at the highest level, something that man utd is having a hard time finding to replace him with.

[KingSingh]

Well forgetting whether its right or wrong, fergie stickin to his guns is a good thing for united causeit shows that he is in no rush to sell and if we keep ruud till january or next summer then it will only be a bonus to our squad. If bayern or real want him they will have to pay uniteds price not their valuation which is the way it works normally. Its a no lose situation and fergie just wants to maximise profit in my opinion.

[manutdc]

It may be hard to replace a 20+ goal-a-season striker, but let's not forget that someone who links up play better with the midfield (ie. not Ruud) would allow the midfielders to chip in with more goals. Like Fergie said - Ronaldo should be scoring 15+ a season, and with someone who is able to bring the midfield into play better, that could well happen. We shouldn't be looking for a direct replacement for Ruud, we should be looking for a replacement that can make the team better.

It's all well and good that Fergie is sticking to his valuation of Ruud, but if this keeps up then we're going to start the season with a striker who doesn't have the heart or motivation to play for United anymore, which is probably as bad as not having one at all.

[KingSingh]

The way manutd play have changed over the past 4-5 years and we need a striker who reflects that change. The days of beckham and giggs swinging in crosses are gone and that used to be ruuds bread and butter. Now with more emphasis on passing our way throught he defense we need a striker who is quick on the ball and a skillful; enough to generate that bit of space for a pass. Huntellar or tevez will be perfect while rossi may suprise us all this season and prove he is up to the task