Gill: No Sneijder, But Man United Are Ready

Manchester United's chief executive David Gill and Wesley Sneijder were in the same room today, as they listened to their fate, but unfortunately, it was the fate of the clubs they were representing at the Champions League group stage draw rather than round a negotiation table.

Once the draw had finished, there were whispers that perhaps Gill, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sneijder would meet up and begin those negotiations. Instead, Gill met up with SkySports to announce that any new signings would be unlikely, and following in Sir Alex Ferguson's view, United are comfortable with the young squad at their disposal.

Gill did confirm that Manchester United had looked at various players, but in an indication that no deal with any of the clubs targets including Wesley Sneijder was close, continued to emphasise the belief United have in their current crop of players. When asked whether United plan to bring in any new faces, Gill said:

"I don't think so. We've looked at various players but we're very comfortable with our squad. We've made some great additions in the summer and we've got a young, vibrant squad." 

"We look forward to a great season now as, I'm sure, will a lot of other clubs. A lot have strengthened, in England in particular, but we feel we're well equipped for the months ahead.

"We'll progress now and I'm sure Alex will get the best out of the players over the season."

It seems Manchester United fans hopeful that Sneijder or a similarly intelligent midfielder were to come in and grace Old Trafford will have to come to terms with the fact that the current squad is likely to be the one which fights United's on-field battles this season.

Many already have, and after a couple of impressive displays from the young players are happy that a new signing who may perhaps halt the progress of some younger players by walking straight into the United side is now off the cards.

However, there are still several days left in the summer transfer window for negotiations to be completed and fine details to fall into place. If Sneijder does agree to lower his wage demands, who knows - perhaps United will make another move just before the deadline - it is, after all Manchester United, where everything seems to be steeped in drama and excitement.

One final big signing would be a pleasant and welcome surprise to United fans, and if it doesn't work out now, there's always January.

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Midfield Signing on The Cards For United

Either Sir Alex Ferguson was purposely trying to dissuade Manchester United fans from getting their hopes up for a new signing, or David Gill doesn't keep the United manager informed on transfer activity.

Just as United fans and pundits digested Ferguson's comments that the club were not looking at any new signings because their main targets were unavailable, David Gill comes up with some comments to give revived hope of a new midfield addition.

"We are looking at one more player to bring in," said Gill, as millions of United fans' ears listened with delight. Gill, the Chief Executive of the club, has always insisted that the manager has money to spend on players if he needs it, and it is this central midfield position now vacated by Paul Scholes that will require a substantial fee to fill.

Ferguson has expressed a specific interest in a few players in that position; namely, Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Inter Milans Wesley Sneijder, with the latter being the favourite among fans. Nasri will cost in excess of £20 million this summer, or absolutely nothing next summer, providing he doesn't sign a new contract with Arsenal, while Sneijder will be a £35 million purchase. It's a big fee, but Ferguson admires the Dutchman hugely, and sees him as the natural replacement for Scholes.

"Nothing is happening and nothing is imminent but we will see what happens when we get home. There will still be 31 days of the transfer window to see if anything develops.

"The important point to understand, and Alex has made clear, is that we need someone who is going to improve the quality of the squad."

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Sneijder to United: The Timeline of Events

Nothing ever seems to be simple with Manchester United, and the Wesley Sneijder to United saga which has continued to dominate the headlines is certainly one of those complicated transfers we'd all rather see completed very soon.

United have thought about Samir Nasri of Arsenal and Luka Modric of Tottenham as replacements for Paul Scholes, but it seems that United have made Sneijder their number one priority. It is a story which journalists and reporters have absolutely loved, with hundreds of varying stories spurted out for us to digest in a rush of excitement only to be disappointed again and again.

So I have collected and shortened as best I can, all of the reports, stories and "exclusives" that we have all been fed over the past couple of months, and stuck them in a sort of timeline. Enjoy:

11th April

• Rumours circulate that Manchester United could be ready to offer their influential winger Nani to Inter Milan to persuade them to let go of Sneijder.

26th April

• Sneijder praises United: “Do I want to go to United? It’s a beautiful club, but I’m fine in Milan and not at the point to think about it.” 

8th May

• An Old Trafford insider says of the move: “It’s up to the owners now. Sir Alex wants the player — it’s just a matter of agreeing to the wage demands.” 

30th May

• It becomes the general consensus that Manchester United must sign Sneijder to keep up with Barcelona.

5th June

• Sneijder flies to California to meet his wife Yolanthe where they discuss whether a move to England with either Manchester United or City would be desirable.

10th June

• Sneijder praises Inter: "Milan is marvellous, picturesque and full of elegance. I love it. At the moment I am very happy here and I don't see why I should leave."

12th June

• Sneijder says something to fuel suggestions he will say goodbye to Inter: "The Inter fans have always treated me very well. They were wonderful and I want to simply thank them. Only God will decide where my future lies."

20th June

• When Sneijder was asked whether he fancied a switch to United he replied rather ambiguously: "We shall see." 

21st June

• Manchester City and Manchester United are locked in a battle to land Wesley Sneijder. 

29th June

• According to reports Manchester United are set to go for broke to land Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder. Manchester United set to offer Wesley Sneijder £200k-per-week deal. [Click Manchester] 

July 6th

• Sneijder would be ‘ideal’ for United, according to Old Trafford first-team coach Rene Meulensteen.

July 9th

• Inter Milan’s board will meet to sanction the sale of Wesley Sneijder to Manchester United.

• Inter boss Gian Piero Gasperini said: “I try not to be worried about Sneijder. He is one of the best players in Europe. But I am convinced we can find a new player when he goes.”

July 11th

• Wesley Sneijder admits desire to remain at Inter: "I want to stay. I have great friends here like Javier Zanetti who kept us all together when morale was low [last season]. If the team decides to sell me then I would go where they say, but I would be unhappy [to leave]."

“Whatever will be will be.” [Goal.com]

July 12th

• Inter Milan director Marco Branca has warned interested clubs off Wesley Sneijder, insisting that the Dutch star "is not for sale". 

July 13th

• Federico Macheda says on Twitter that he hopes to see Sneijder in the United team soon, sparking hundreds of new reports saying the United striker has "leaked" information he shouldn't have. 

• Manchester United are close to completing Wesley Sneijder's £35million transfer.

• United chief executive David Gill is believed to have agreed terms with representatives of the Inter Milan and Holland star, who will earn £190,000-a-week at Old Trafford. [the mirror]

14th July

• United are ready to use Nani as bait in their bid to lure Wesley Sneijder to Old Trafford (again.) 

• Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said the club have "no real interest" in signing Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder. [BBC] 

15th July

• Sportswear giants Nike have emerged as key to Wesley Sneijder completing a £35.2 million move to Manchester United. The US-based firm sponsor Sneijder and supply the Premier League champions' kit and could be ready to step in and pay a percentage of the Dutchman's wages to ensure the club record transfer goes through.

16th July

• With Arsenal refusing to sell Samir Nasri and Internazionale reluctant to do business for Wesley Sneijder, the Reds boss is now thought to have turned to Hamsik.

To Be Continued...

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Qatar Holdings in £1.5 Billion Manchester United Takeover

The news is that Manchester United are close to being taken over by Qatar Holdings in a massive deal worth £1.5 billion.

Qatar Holdings’ chairman, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, who is currently Qatar’s prime minister, is said to be keen on the idea of taking over one of the biggest clubs in he world in Manchester United after Qatar's controversial 2022 World Cup bid win.

This is obviously good news for Manchester United fans who have done their utmost to get rid of the current American owners, the Glazer family. The Green and Gold campaign and the constant protests against the Americans due to the amount of debt that they have put the club in have had little effect. But now that a super rich company are waving £1.5 billion in front of the faces of the much hated owners, this spell of hostility may be about end.

However, there is one thing that the Glazer's have given Manchester United which Sir Alex Ferguson will be thanking them for. That is the freedom to run the team as he wants. Throughout the Americans ownership, they have stayed out of the way of Ferguson - letting him manage the team with freedom that other managers of clubs could only dream of. Ferguson's position at the club was always going to be safe, but at clubs like Chelsea, when managers are being sacked every other season, the stability that they have allowed at the club on the pitch has probably been the only good thing that can be squeezed out of their ownership period.

The impression Ferguson gives is that if he wants to buy a player, he can. He will be provided with the money which David Gill claims the club have to spend on players. The difference if the new owners arrive is that money will be guaranteed and the club will no longer be burdened with debt. Some pretty good plus points there, it has to be said.

If the prospective new owners are to come in, to be popular with fans, they must listen to them, and work with them to improve the club situation. The money will obviously be there for Ferguson and any other future managers to spend, so recruiting new players won't be a problem, but they must keep an interest in the football as well, and not be swayed into making knee-jerk decisions as was made by the new Blackburn owners. Manchester United must stay as the proud, successful club that it has been in football, and guaranteed stability is key to that.