If just half the rumors about the number of strikers Sir Alex Ferguson is reported to be interested in prove to be correct, Old Trafford will provide the setting for the highest scoring matches ever seen in the Premier League next season. The reality is certain to be somewhat different however with the vast majority of reports seen in the daily media being nothing more than kite flying exercises.
A cynic may well ask if some football journalists are not in fact on a percentage from these agents as they assist in either finding clubs or inflating transfer fees and earnings for some of the players being touted almost daily with no real basis for their authenticity. Far fetched? Quite possibly. Food for thought? Most certainly.
The latest rumor being put forward is that Manchester United is considering a shock move for AC Milan forward Marco Borriello. There’s little doubt that Sir Alex Ferguson is on the lookout for an effective striker to partner Wayne Rooney and is thought to be a big admirer of the in form Italian international. Ferguson is now believed to have earmarked the big powerful San Siro man as a potential target.
The £18m rated Naples born striker has been a member of the Rossoneri since 2002 but has spent loan spells at a number of Serie A sides during that spell but a successful stint at Genoa where he netted 19 goals, led to his return to the AC Milan fold and he hasn’t looked back since.
Milan’s Brazilian coach Leonardo has put a lot of faith in the 27 year old who has netted 14 goals this season making him the club’s top marksman. His form has led to his inclusion in Marcello Lippi’s 30 man provisional World Cup squad named this week. Ferguson may well feel that Borriello’s physical attributes would lend themselves to a role in the Premier League and could well make him a perfect foil for England goal machine Rooney.
Whether Borriello ends up at Old Trafford or not is another matter because there are so many other targets in the mix. One of them is CSKA Moscow’s in demand Serbian Milos Krasic who would be “stupid” to turn down the chance of a move to Manchester United in the view of his agent Dejan Joksimovic. Like Borriello, Krasic was named in his country’s World Cup squad alongside United defender Nemanja Vidic, having followed the Reds defender’s path by moving to Russia six years ago in order to get additional experience of club football.
It seems unlikely that the 25 year old will remain in Moscow for long though with a number of Europe’s leading clubs, including some from the Premier League, already showing an interest in the £15million rated winger. As a non English speaker, Krasic’s preference would be Champions League finalists Bayern Munich where his closest friend Ivica Olic plies his trade.
The presence of Vidic however would make Old Trafford only slightly less appealing for Krasic who was part of the CSKA side that reached the quarter finals of this season’s Champions League. Ferguson saw Krasic cause his side plenty of problems during their clashes with CSKA Moscow and the Old Trafford supremo is known to be keen on the Serbian international.
“Bayern would be his first choice because his best friend is there but the Bundesliga is also the weakest of the countries who could realistically afford him” Joksimovic admitted “I must stress, Manchester United have not been in touch but the attraction is there because of Vidic and in Milos’ opinion the Premier League remains the best in the world. He would certainly be happy to test himself there. Let’s be honest, you would have to be stupid to say no”
There’s obviously no guarantee that Sir Alex has genuine interest in these two internationals but if he does, their respective performances in South Africa next month could hold the key to which one of them may end up at Old Trafford next season.
Would you like to see United move for Borriello or Krasic?
