What Does Carrick Deal Mean For United Transfers?

News that Michael Carrick signed a new Manchester United contract wasn't the most popular news among United fans, not least because he has had a below average season so far, in a pretty average and uncreative midfield.

The majority of United fans on forums have been raging with the news with comments like:

"F***ing hell, his demeanor on the pitch this season suggests he can't be arsed. There was a time a few months ago where it looked like he was protesting on the pitch but generally being a ****."

"Chelsea are rebuilding, and so must we. City will be stronger too. Next season, genuinely, we could be left behind if we don't improve the 11"

"We're doomed"

"F***ing joke of a midfield player for best part of 2 seasons"

"They must have a plan - a new plan - that he fits into somehow"

So why has Sir Alex Ferguson not seen what United fans are seeing? Does Ferguson think Carrick would be better than new signings - fresh-faced, skilful, creative and imaginative players who would rejuvenate a current old, fragile centre midfield.
Well, Sir Alex had this to say:

"I am delighted Michael has signed a new contract."

"He has been outstanding since joining us from Tottenham in 2006. He is a true professional and it is great he has committed his future to the club.”

Perhaps Sir Alex knows that no large funds will be available in the summer to sign any big name, top quality, proven players. Or perhaps the United manager is sticking to his understandable and obvious claim that there is no value in the market. When £25 million for, at best, good players are happening every other week because bottomless pits of money are available at certain clubs, inflation is out of control. United don't have that sort of money.

Expect more signings like the astute ones of  Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling. Manchester United scouts will have been sent out to search for midfielders that could, in the future, replace the likes of Paul Scholes and maybe even Owen Hargreaves who's injuries seem unfortunately endless. Players will be signed in the summer, but they will be young, and not in high demand - possible risks, unproven atPremier League level.

Manchester United have been linked to Alexis Sanchez, the Chilean winger playing for Udinese. The club have announced that a bid of close to £30 million was offered to them, with a completion due to go ahead in the summer. Udinese refused to identify the bidders.

United will be bidding for a goalkeeper in the summer, I'm sure we can assume that much in confidence. Again, the cheapest option is most likely to be considered - in this case, Maarten Stekelenburg of Ajax who is apparently worth around £10 million as opposed to other targets such as Manuel Neur and David de Gea, who's asking prices will be considerably higher.

United have been linked to several midfielders as they scour the globe to find a replacement for Scholes, including Nuri Sahin, Steven Defour and Marek Hamsik - all would cost at least over £10 million, with the highest valuation being around £35 million for Hamsik.
Perhaps it would be better to give some young players from the reserve team a go - there are certainly some talents in there, with Tom Cleverley, who was on loan at Wigan and Paul Pogba impressing. Pogba may be too young at the moment, but I would like to see more of Cleverley, but it looks very likely that Ferguson will be looking for a new play maker in the market this summer despite news of Carrick's contract extension.

Sign Scholes Up

"The greatest player of his generation", "a beautiful player to watch", "he can do anything". Those are just a few of the compliments that have been presented to Paul Scholes, the Manchester United legend who will turn 37 later this year. He is a role model to all footballers with his absolute professionalism and must be a joy to manage for Sir Alex Ferguson - never seeking the limelight, described off the pitch as "shy".

Despite his age, Scholes still has the defence cutting creativity and fantastic range of passing that has made him a regular starter at Old Trafford for the past 16 and a half seasons, which has enabled him to make 660 appearances and counting. It is no wonder therefore, that the United manager wants to hold onto him for as long as he possibly can, and with Scholes apparently still undecided over his future in football, Ferguson will be doing his best to persuade him to stay in the game.
Sir Alex said:

"I am more than hopeful about Paul signing another contract."

"I think he should.

"His fitness isn't in question. I think Paul feels he has to play all the games.

"It is not a bad thing to be that way but at his age, that is impossible.

"But he can still play a big part for Manchester United, this season and next."

It is unsurprising that the Manchester United manager is desperate to keep Scholes in the red of United, because in the current transfer market climate, he won't find another player of Scholes' calibre going on the cheap.

The current midfield isn't exactly full of developed top quality players; Michael Carrick is in an unfortunate long spell of bad or inconsistent form, while Darron Gibson is constantly under pressure to impress due to constantly being used as a scapegoat by some fans after poor team performances. Anderson was beginning to shine after some injuries but has suffered another injury which will rule him out for a little while - so what will his form be like when he gets back?

United have been linked to several midfielders as they scour the globe to find a replacement for Scholes, including Nuri Sahin, Steven Defour and Marek Hamsik - all would cost at least over £10 million, with the highest valuation being around £35 million for Hamsik.

Perhaps it would be better to give some young players from the reserve team a go - there are certainly some talents in there, with Tom Cleverley, who was on loan at Wigan and Paul Pogba impressing. Pogba may be too young at the moment, but I would like to see more of Cleverley, but it looks very possible that Ferguson will be looking for a new play maker in the market this summer.

Either way, it would be better for United if they could keep hold of Scholes for another season, and even if he doesn't play every game, he will still have a big impact on the squad with the example he sets and has set since his first appearance for the Red Devils.

Marek Hamsik to Man Utd or Chelsea?

Despite being treated to a January transfer window filled to the rim with big money, big name, controversial moves here, there, and everywhere, the next transfer window is already being eagerly anticipated with rumours starting to fly around like paper aeroplanes in an unruly classroom. They just can't be stopped. Even if the player involved in a rumour has only recently signed a new contract with his club, they are linked to moves away. Probably because money is far more powerful than loyalty nine times out of ten in today's footballing, business-like world.

Getting to this rumour, and Manchester United are still searching for that special talent (and they need to be special) to replace Paul Scholes in the centre of the United midfield. Charlie Adam of Blackpool was linked to a move in January, but Sir Alex Ferguson recently accepted that Blackpool needed him for the rest of the season for them to stay in the division.

Nuri Sahin, the German born Turkish international playing his football for Borussia Dortmund is also rumoured to be interesting Sir Alex with his creative ability, passing, awareness and vision that have made Scholes such a great player.

Stephen Defour, again, another name that Ferguson is keen on. It is well known the admiration Ferguson has for the Belgian midfielder as he wrote him a get well soon letter after the Standard Liege play maker broke his leg in 2009.

But it is Marek Hamsik, the Slovakian 23 year-old who is apparently bleeping loudly on the Manchester United radar. Hamsik has received wide admiration for his ability on the ball and has been linked to many a top club including Chelsea and Liverpool, while the player himself said it would be "difficult to say not to Manchester United". In an interview, Hamsik praised the English League and the atmosphere in England while his agent claimed that a move is a "possibility".

The price? Well, you don't have to know much about football to know that even average players are currently being sold for well over what they should be realistically being valued at. That's not to say that Hamsik is average, but £35 million is a lot of money for a player unproven in England and would be one hell of a risk for that amount.

Having said that, Chelsea are also strongly linked. They just paid £50 million and £25 million for Torres and David Luiz respectively. They don't mind a risk or two (or three) it seems. The price is so high because Hamsik signed a contract extension at his Italian club Napoli only recently, and to buy that contract obviously increases the asking price.

I can't see Ferguson spending £35 million on Hamsik, despite his obvious talent. I am also unsure, as many people are about this UEFA fair play money rule. How can Chelsea get round it if they splash another ludicrous amount to add to the £75 million they have already spent, when this is exactly the kind of spending that UEFA were supposedly trying to stop.

It is just a rumour.

N'Zogbia to Liverpool?

Charles N'Zogbia of Wigan Athletic has continually been linked with a move away from the DW Stadium, and has even admitted himself that if a bigger, better club came calling, he would happily consider it, describing Wigan as a "stepping stone" to future success.

Liverpool, and their new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli, have already been linked to a few creative midfielders including Marek Hamsik, Eden Hazard and Giovani dos Santos, and are now reportedly interested in signing the Wigan Frenchman in a deal worth a possible £9 million. It is thought that the extra natural width will produce more chances for the strikers - namely, Fernando Torres, as Liverpool seek to gain as many points as possible in their climb back to success.

Ryan Babel has failed to impress for Liverpool since his move from Ajax in 2007, while the striker-turned-winger Dirk Kuyt has a distinct lack of back-up for when he gets injured or needs a rest. Hodgson has apparently registered this, and was reportedly keeping a close eye on 24-year old N'Zogbia in Wigan's recent 2 - 2 draw with Stoke City in which he put in a man of the match performance.

N'Zogbia recently said:

"Wigan's just a stepping stone. They know very well I'm not a player who is going to stay at the club.

"I give 100 per cent on the pitch, but, if there's a bigger club that wants me, the manager and the president have always told me the door is open for discussion."

He has been a major player for Wigan since signing in 2009; he was named Wigan's Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Season for 2009–10, and scored the winning goal against Arsenal in an excellent comeback in April which all but secured struggling Wigan's Premier League status.

Last summer he was given permission to speak to Birmingham City, after a £9 million was accepted by Wigan, but the deal did not materialise. So if he was eager to join Birmingham, surely he will be convinced to join Liverpool - especially as he will then have the chance to play alongside two of the best players in the world in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. That way,Wigan will have turned out to be the perfect "stepping stone" for the former Newcastle man.

Marek Hamsik Move to Manchester United a "possibility"

Marek Hamsik has drawn attention from clubs around the world, including a few in the Premier League. Manchester United in particular are the club that are reportedly interested as Ferguson is trying to find a replacement for Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in his aging midfield. The Belgian midfielder Steven Defour has been heavily linked to Manchester United, and seems like an inevitable move in the future, but hints from Hamsik's representatives as well as himself have caused speculation as to where Hamsik will be playing next season.

His agent said:

“I don't like speaking about transfers, but I have heard there are many teams thinking of Hamsik.

“I have not heard from anyone, every step would have to go through Napoli who own the player's rights"

“However, if a club that satisfies the needs of Napoli and Hamsik presents an offer, then there could be a division. It's early to talk, but it is a possibility.”

Hamsik himself praised the English League before a game against Liverpool and said:

"I am pleased people want to see me, I want to perform well on this stage against a team like Liverpool at Anfield. I know the English league is a great league with a wonderful atmosphere and great stadia."

"There are rumours but no-one has contacted me or the club. I am calm and relaxed and just want to play well for Napoli.

While early in November the 23 year old said:

"I have to admit, it would be difficult to say no to Manchester United."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to move for Hamsik until the summer transfer window after claiming his side will be adding no new players to the squad in January. However, with the future of Owen Hargeaves and Michael Carrick in doubt due to persistent injuries and on/off form respectively, Ferguson is likely to be looking for a quality young midfielder in the summer.

When Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are gone, they will leave a gaping hole in the Manchester United team and Ferguson knows that this hole must be filled somehow, with the United fans' preference being good, strong playmakers of Manchester United quality.