Sneijder "Not Available" - But United Will Find Someone

Manchester United have been linked to a good number of game changing central midfielder's and exciting play makers this summer, with names from Ganso to Sneijder placed alongside United's in the gossip columns.

It isn't a rare thing for players to be linked to a big club like United, but once again, Sir Alex Ferguson has calmly played down the rumours, and insisted that if his main targeted replacement for Paul Scholes is unavailable, it would be useless to bring in someone who is a second choice and not up to the standard set by Scholes.

While some United fans frantically tell of the terrible doom the club will find themselves in if United don't spend a load of cash on a big player like Sneijder to work the midfield, pulling their hair out and bashing their fists against the nearest hard platform, the United manager does what he has always done. He has been shrewd, steady and very patient in the market - not rushing for big money deals without any value.

He is simply being realistic. His main target has clearly been Wesley Sneijder. He has admitted the interest himself, along with well placed sources insisting that despite the United managers recent denial, negotiations have taken place. For all we know, they still may be, and Ferguson is only trying to keep the attention away from it.

But if he really does mean it when he says: "At this moment, I can't see another addition. The type of player we might have been looking for is not available," then United will have to accept it and fill in the space left by Scholes until the "type of player" that United are looking for becomes available.

We can't kid ourselves into thinking that Ferguson is oblivious to the fact that a hole has been left by his long serving midfielder. He knows very well, and he also knows the importance of a player of his calibre - he wouldn't be United manager of over 25 years otherwise.

The United boss will find a replacement. It may not be this summer, but next summer is when there is likely to be an injection of new blood into the centre of the United midfield. Next summer will be when Yann M'Vila becomes available to bigger clubs as he looks to fulfil his ambitions, and it is also the time when Samir Nasri will most likely become available on a free. United have been interested in both this summer, but their "availability" is not guaranteed right now.

The favourite among Manchester United fans to replace Scholes is Sneijder - naturally. He is a big player, world renowned, has won as many trophies as possible, and impressed for his country in a World Cup, helping them to the final. He is the obviously already talented player who could be an Old Trafford fan favourite even before he joins.

However, if Sir Alex is unable to persuade Inter to let Sneijder go, he won't waste much time on it - he will move on, and he will ineviatbly find a player, either from the market or from the youth at the club, who is capable of filling Scholes's shoes:

"Scholes was such a great, consistent player for us. I don't think we will find another Paul Scholes. But hopefully we can replace him. Maybe we will find a different type of player. Manchester United do that." 

"Time and time again we have faced this problem. But eventually something turns up, either through our youth system or we will identify someone."

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Yann M'Vila "Will Stay at Rennes"...For Now

Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich's interest in Rennes central midfielder, Yann M'Vila is as strong as ever, but he will be staying in France for now, according to a spokesman for the French club.

M'Vila has understandably attracted interest from several top sides with his performances for Rennes last season, with a nomination for the UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year to his name and a place in Ligue 1's team of the year.

However, the 21 year-old has only recently signed an extension on his contract which now runs until 2015. It is widely thought that this was done so as to increase his market value come next summer when Rennes are said to be prepared to lisen to offers from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. The spokesperson for Rennes said:

"M'Vila will stay at Rennes - there are no plans to sell him and the rest is just rumour."

M'Vila is a strong, tough tackler with a lot of energy to cover a lot of ground for his team mates, putting pressure on the opponent, and winning the ball to give to his team mates. He is a mature young man with a big future ahead of him, and commands a price tag of around £15 million, if or when a club comes in for him.

Despite Rennes defiant slant on his future now, it seems only a matter of time before his ambition outgrows the club he began his senior career with. The player has already cited Manchester United as the club of his dreams whilst saying that the Premier League is "sensational" and would best fit his style of play.

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Yann M'Vila - Premier League Star of the Future?

It's all "go" in the transfer window at the moment, with football clubs all over the world negotiating deals for players who could make their team a force to be reckoned with. Even Arsenal's Arsene Wenger has admitted to being on the phone constantly, racking up a huge phone bill all in the hope of bringing players in and keeping current players happy so they want to stay. But there is one young talent who may not be the subject of phone calls regarding transfers this season, but is biding his time. He is talent that many a Premier League club have been monitoring closely, but one who will not act too rashly or ambitiously be jumping ship to a top side to soon.

Yann M'Vila has been tracked by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal as well as Real Madrid among others, with United reportedly having prepared a £15 million bid for him this summer. It is a bid which takes into account United's depleted midfield options now that Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves are gone for good.

While United fans will be looking and hoping for the arrival of a proven, top class attacking midfielder such as Arsenal's Samir Nasri or Inter's Wesley Sneijder, Sir Alex Ferguson may be continuing to look to the future, and it is absolutely certain that M'Vila has a big one ahead of him.

At 21 years of age, the French defensive midfielder is already a very mature young man. He has steadily risen from the ranks for his country, starting out with the French Under-16's and playing through every age stage until his senior call-up in August of 2010. A 19 year-old M'Vila, who plays his club football for Ligue 1 side Rennes, was called up to the French World Cup preliminary squad on May 11th, with the then France manager, Raymond Domenech citing his reasons:

"I saw that he already had the mentality of a top player. I looked at him on the pitch and I thought I was seeing a 26-year-old, not a teenager. His choices, his positioning and his distribution belonged to someone much older, more experienced."

His maturity extends to off the field too, already being a husband and father to two children. While family distractions could easily throw a footballer off of their focus on football, M'Vila has said that he believed i has helped him to become a more stable person:

"Fatherhood has made me more responsible and given my life stability."

A model professional is exactly what the biggest football clubs look for, with stable and mature lives. Sir Alex Ferguson is known to like this quality in his players, despite the recent news stories about certain of his players less than holy private lives. So why can't he just join the Premier League now? You may ask. Well, it comes down the the very fact of his focus on football.

He has recently agreed a one year extension on his Rennes contract, and the French clubs general manager, Pierre Dreossi, is very keen to keep hold of M'Vila, saying that if he does leave, it will be next year rather than this but he is confident of keeping hold of M'Vila this summer, despite interest from the top clubs around the world. The player said:

"At my age, many young players are going to earn more money, but personally I would like to continue to progress with a coach who knows me well, Frederic Antonetti."

It does seem inevitable that the 21 year-old will be leaving some time in the future, and when he does, his preference is to the Premier League, and in particular, with the "club of his dreams", Manchester United. In two separate interviews in the past, M'Vila stated:

"I would like to play in a great league and the Premier League is sensational. English football would best fit my style of play. 

"Manchester United is the club of my dreams. It is a very prestigious club and I dream to play for them.”

He may be what Manchester United are looking for. The signing of Owen Hargreaves in 2007 showed Sir Alex Ferguson's intent to play someone with the tackling ability, strength and technique to cover the back four, and push forward as well. Indeed, the season that Hargreaves played saw United win both the Premier League title and a Champions League trophy, highlighting the successful formulae that Sir Alex discovered. However, Hargreaves's well known injuries ruled him out for pretty much every game for the next four years, and United will be looking for a similar player minus the injuries.

M'Vila is a strong, tough tackler with a lot of energy to cover a lot of ground for his team mates, putting pressure on the opponent, and winning the ball to give to his team mates - exactly what Hargreaves did. M'Vila isn't too bad going forward either, with the useful ability to find a team mate with a good passing range. He managed three goals and an assist last season, which doesn't exactly jump off the page, but it is important to not that attacking isn't what M'Vila is all about.

The waiting game will have to be played by M'Vila's possible suitors, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Athletico Madrid. That is, unless any of them are willing to pay over the odds to secure his signature this summer, and Rennes are looking for at least £15 million for him. His most likely destination is the Premier League, and the most likely time he joins is next summer, but if and when he does join, he could be, with his midfield capabilities, huge maturity and suitability, a Premier League star.

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Wenger Has £40 Million - Who Will He Buy?

Arsene Wenger has been given £40 million by Arsenal, and been told that he can do absolutely anything he wishes with it. Well, as long as that 'anything' is in regards to any players he wishes to purchase in the transfer market - a market which has been scarcely used by the Arsenal manager in large quantities for a while. A market which Sir Alex Ferguson, Wengers rival, claims there is "no value" - a claim well supported by Chelsea, who proved exactly that by splashing £10 million more than what Wenger has to spend on a striker who has so far made no impact on their title chase, scoring zero goals.

So with that in mind, who will Wenger bring to Arsenal, who he believes will add something different, somehing better to the squad. A squad which many commentators, critics and pundits suggests needs adding to, in the form of real stability - a defensive midfielder perhaps, or a good few central defenders to sure up that shaky defence, and maybe even an injury free, reliably prolific striker who will convert the chances that Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie cannot.

It's all very easy to list what Arsenal need, but what's harder is to tell Wenger what Arsenal need, and then convert those thoughts into actions. The general consensus is that Arsenal must spend - explicitly suggested in the Arsenal board giving him £40 million to do what he likes with. But with Wenger stubbornly set in his ways of spending little and relying on youth, there will be a lot of thinking involved in finding the right players for the right values at Arsenal. With £40 million ready to spend, the gossip columns will have no shortage of players to link to Arsenal either, so here's a few already being tipped for a move.

Lets start with that defensive midfielder. Gokhan Inler is the man rumoured to be on Arsenal's wanted list, and at a rumoured bargain of £8 million, it seems too good to be true for Wenger. He was followed by Roy Hodgson when he managed Liverpool, and was tipped to be Javier Mascherano's replacement, but of course a deal never materialised and he remains playing at Udinese. Arsenal are apparently watching him closely, and it always helps when a player comes out with: "My future has absolutely not been decided". The player has a good work rate and aggressive style of play - an enforcer in the middle - something Arsenal desperately need.


Next up is those defenders who have been linked to Arsenal. Bolton's Gary Cahill has been mentioned more than several times, and his admission that he wants to be more like Jack Wilshere, playing against the big teams in the Champions League have not done any harm to a possible transfer to the Emirates. Wenger is a vocal admirer of Cahill who is starting to make a name for himself in the English national side, but his sudden rise to prominence has done something awful to put Wenger off. His asking price has risen drastically. Valued at over £20 million, surely this is out of Wenger's price range. Unfortunately I cannot imagine Wenger spending this much on a defender.


A defender far, far, far within Wenger's price range is Phillipe Mexes. In fact he's so cheap, he's free. His contract at Roma expires in June, making him a free-agent, however, Wenger will still need to use some of that £40 million to persuade the Frenchman to Arsenal. Mexes would come with a heft wage packet, and with Chelsea also rumoured to be on his trail, Arsenal must be ready (if they want him) to offer him those wages.

Other rumours are less prominent. They are so because they are rumours about attacking players, and Arsenal have no lack of those at the club, but perhaps if investment is not used, those class acts such as Nasri, Fabregas, van Persie and Walcott will turn their heads to new clubs - though that is unlikely considering their apparent loyalty to the cause. Attacking rumours include another Frenchman, Yann M'Vila and Sporting Lisbon forward Yannick Djalo. 


There is then of course, Arsenal admirer, and Wenger admirer, Eden Hazard. A very bright prospect, and real attacking flare, he has already stated that, "If one day I leave Lille, I will go to Real or Arsenal." The Belgian play maker is the "next big thing", and with Arsenal now having the money, surely Wenger wouldn't pass up the opportunity to have a player who really wants to play for his team and "dreamed of joining as a child."


Arsenal's goalkeeping situation is covered by Szczesny now, and I think most Arsenal fans, and Wenger accept him as their new number 1 goalkeeper, while Wenger doesn't look likely to delve into his pockets for a new one. Especially when he can just call Jens Lehmann back for free, or if he's not available, David Seaman.

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Video: Arsenal Target Gokhan Inler

In the last few weeks Arsenal have been linked to both Yann M'Vila and Yannick Djalo, and now, talkSPORT have reported that Arsene Wenger may spend £8 million on the Swiss midfielder, Gokhan Inler. The 26 year-old currently plays for the Seria A side Udinese, but speculation has been rife in Italy about his future at the club.

He has been watched by several Premier League clubs since his move to Napoli in 2007 including Liverpool, as Roy Hodgson believed he could replace Javier Mascherano in Liverpool's central midfield before the Englishman's departure. Inler plays in a similar area to Mascherano - a deep lying position just ahead of the defenders, and it is this kind of player that several Arsenal blogs have been suggesting Arsenal buy to guard the defence.

Inler has scored 3 goals this season, one of which was a stunning strike from long range against Napoli as you can see below. However, you may notice the lack of celebration and joy in the players face. Some said that this was a sign of Inler's growing disinterest in playing for Udinese, but the player cleared this speculation up:

"I have many friends in Switzerland who are Napoli supporters and they asked me not to score. Out of respect to them, I responded that way." 

"My heart is black and white and I think I proved that with my performance against Napoli. 

"I'm sorry if I offended anyone, as it was not my intention. Once I got back to the locker room, I shouted my joy and embraced my team-mates.

"My future has absolutely not been decided and I haven't signed for another club."

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Now Arsenal Want £15 million Yann M'Vila

He has been tracked for some time by both Manchester United and Liverpool, but now, the Rennes defensive midfielder is being linked to a £15 million move to Arsenal.

The 20 year old midfielder is highly thought of in France, and teams all over Europe have been said to be watching him in the hope of acquiring his services.

Back in January, the Frenchman, who has been described as a player who possesses "excellent defensive abilities" and "impressive physical strength" said:

"Manchester United is the club of my dreams. It's a very prestigious club and I dream to play for them."

However, some sources claim that Arsenal have sent scouts to watch him in action and are "poised" to table a £15 million bid to bring him to the Emirates. Arsene Wenger is known for his attention to younger prospects, yet he is often criticized for not bringing in experience, which is cited as one of the main reasons for Arsenal's lack of success. It seems then, that Wenger has been doing his homework, as M'Vila's coach said after his debut in 2009: "For a youngster, he has an unusual level of maturity in his game."

A Rennes source said: "We know there are many clubs who want M'Vila but only a big offer will tempt us to sell him. We have not received any official bids."


His qualities are summed up on ESPN's profile on the player: Robust in the challenge, M'Vila is happy to put himself about and fears no-one when it comes to making a tackle. He boasts a fantastic work-rate but is by no means just about lumbering physicality; he possesses superb vision and can be instrumental in building-up attacks from the back.

His contract with Rennes expires in 2014 after signing another extension to his contract in August of 2010.

M'Vila to United & Marveux to Liverpool

Yann M'Vila and Sylvain Marveux are said to be on their way to England this summer in the form of two of the top Premier League clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool.

The 20 year-old Frenchman Yann M'Villa is a defensive midfielder who plays at Ligue 1 for Rennes and has been described as a player who possesses "excellent defensive abilities" and "impressive physical strength".
He announced his love for Manchester United earlier this year:

"Manchester United is the club of my dreams. It's a very prestigious club and I dream to play for them."

Now, news sources are reporting that Sir Alex Ferguson sees him as the perfect replacement for the injured Owen Hargreaves. M'Vila has been linked to Liverpool, Tottenham and Real Madrid and is very highly rated in France so his club will be expecting around £15 million for him.

On to Liverpool's target and Sylvain Marveux is apparently "very close" to an agreement with Liverpool about a transfer in the summer. The 24 year-old versatile midfielder has been quoted as saying:

"I am very close to reaching agreement with Liverpool about joining them next season"

He can play in a number of positions in the midfield but is mostly played on the left side of midfield or in a further advanced position more centrally. Last season, Marveaux played 28 times in all competitions, scored 12 goals, and assisted 5. Liverpool have lacked a real winger in recent years, so Marveux, who seems quite eager about a move would be a good addition to Dalglish's Liverpool side.

He will be out of contract at his current club Rennes by the end of the season, so Liverpool will be able to pick him on a Bosman.