Manchester United at last getting rid of Glazers

The Red Knights' dreams of rescuing Manchester United from the grips of the Glazer family look to have come to a dead end.

It was expected the Red Knights group would launch a formal bid for the Old Trafford outfit at some point before the World Cup.

However, the Glazer family last week stated they had no intention of selling the club and previous claims the American owners had rejected a £1.5billion bid from a Far East consortium already seem to have led to a belief amongst the Red Knights that there is little point making a substantially lower offer that was also certain to be rejected.

"The Red Knights remain committed to pursuing their efforts to try and help bring ownership of Manchester United to its supporters, and under a structure with materially less debt," said a statement released on behalf of the group this morning.

"As we have maintained however since news of our ambitions first emerged in March, we will only attempt to purchase the club at a sensible price, consistent with the long-term interests of the club.

"Persistent speculation in the media of inflated valuation aspirations has made our goals less attainable, as potential investors have strongly reinforced our views that we should not move forward at a price uneconomic for the future of the club."

It effectively means the Red Knights will not move forward until they get an indication United would be sold for around £1billion, a sum they believe is realistic given current market conditions.

The news will come as a major disappointment to fans opposed to the current owners and those who have mounted a major campaign against them.

However, the likelihood is that the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) will now call for a boycott of season tickets and other club merchandise in an effort to damage revenue streams and undermine the Glazers' business plan.

Whether this has any effect is another matter.

United chief executive David Gill recently claimed season ticket sales were roughly in line with previous years and the club's satellite London-based commercial arm recently topped £200million in new deals alone.

With American insurance giant Aon about to begin a four-year shirt sponsorship deal, there is no sign of a reduction of United's pulling power, even though they ended last term with only the Carling Cup as silverware, having missed out on both the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

Club officials have repeatedly stressed Sir Alex Ferguson has the funds to strengthen his squad this summer, although so far, the only arrivals are Mexican striker Javier Hernandez and Fulham defender Chris Smalling, both of whom have been bought with an eye on the future.

"We understand that many supporters were hoping that we might be in a position to make a bid before the season ticket renewal deadline," continued the Red Knights' statement.

"However, our approach is best served by long-term interests of all. We have never taken a stance on season ticket renewals, it is a personal choice for all supporters.

"We have spent some considerable time assessing the value of the club.

"If the fundamentals lead to a more realistic re-assessment then, along with our co-operation with MUST and other Manchester United supporters, we will aim to achieve our goals."

Mourinho ‘goes nuclear’ with £95m Rooney bid

Jose Mourinho hasn't barely got his feet under the desk at Real Madrid, but already the Special One is causing palpitations amongst the managers of some of Europe's biggest clubs as he goes after their stars.

Although he has yet to come out and say publicly who his targets are Mourinho has already been linked with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Maicon - although he has played down the speculation.

Now the website caughtoffside.com is reporting that he could be about to 'go nuclear' and put in a world record £95m bid for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be bound to experience some 'squeaky bum time' as he waits to see if the club's owners, the unpopular Glazer family, decide that the offer is too big to refuse and pull the carpet from under Ferguson's feet and force him to accept.

Whether Sir Alex would accept United selling their most valuable assets for two years running is another matter. But Mourinho is apparently hoping that the widely-reported financial difficulties at Old Trafford will influence Ferguson's difficult decision.

If Rooney was to do the unthinkable and up sticks to Madrid then Ferguson could try and replace him with Serbia's 19-year-old Barcelona frontman Bojan Krkic, who would cost him £12m. 

With a new look front line of Krkic and Javier Hernandez, Fergie could well favour souping up his underpowered midfield with the rest of his transfer kitty.

Brazilian midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso of Santos has been mooted as the man to help him do it, although intriguing whispers from the Mirror suggest it could also be the talented if injury prone Everton star Mikel Arteta.

England Final Squad for Worldcup 2010 Southafrica

England Squad:


Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), James Milner (Aston Villa), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Gareth Barry (Manchester City).
Strikers: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham).

4 Reasons Why Rooney Wont be Leaving United this summer

Rooney is United, Rooney is for United, Rooney is Ever United





1. Rooney IS Manchester United, and is set to extend his contract after the World Cup.


2. He loves the life in England and has no desire to move to ’sunnier’ climes like other footballers.


3. He is already playing for a great club, it’s not like he needs to make the step up for his career.


4. Mourinho doesn’t want to mess around with Manchester United, given that he’s openly auditioning for a job as their next manager.

United Have £180mn for Transfers but Debts made it only £25mn Available

Manchester United have a staggering £180 million in their transfer coffers but the club have told investors that the kitty can be guaranteed only £25m each financial year.

United’s latest set of financial figures released last Friday revealed that the £80m Cristiano Ronaldo windfall has not yet been spent.

In a conference call to investors later that afternoon, United chief of staff Edward Woodward reiterated that the club’s guidance figure of £25m for net transfer spending remained valid.

Given that the Old Trafford club also have a further £75m credit facility available, in theory there is £180m available to spend on players, which would give Sir Alex Ferguson budget to rival Manchester City’s.

The reality, though, is somewhat different. The quarterly results for the period January to end of March 2010, which take in the first nine months of the financial year, showed that the Glazers are continuing to increase the debt burden on the club despite the healthy growth in matchday, media and commercial revenue.

Although the overall debt in the club has decreased from £543.3m year-on-year to £520m, it has increased by £12m since the Glazers took out a £500m bond in January to refinance what the club calls their “senior debt”.

The accounts of Red Football Ltd, United’s holding company, show a cash balance of £95.9m, but around £45m of it will be paid in interest. The figures also disclosed that the club lost £40.7m in a disastrous interest rate swap secured as part of a 2007 financing arrangement.

Digging deep? | Glazers could open up transfer funds

The greatest hindrance to United’s transfer plans could lie in the payment in kind (PIK) loans, which, although not revealed in the results posted by the football club, are estimated to have grown to £225m. They are due to increase to 16.25 per cent in August because of the firm’s high debts.

The fear of many United supporters is that the Glazers will dip in to the Ronaldo money to partially repay the PIK debt.

When the bond was issued, the club said that net spending would average £25m. During the current financial year, the net spend on players is £26.4m following the transfer last month of Ben Foster to Birmingham City.

This takes into account the purchases of Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan, Mame Biriam Diouf, Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez but not the sale of Ronaldo, who moved to Real Madrid at the end of the 2008-09 financial year.

Given that Sir Alex Ferguson appears to have reached his limit for the current financial year, it suggests that any summer spending will come after June 30.

United Going for Higuain and Silva spending £60million in market

"ALEX FERGUSON will try to persuade Manchester United chiefs to spend big in the summer after their season dramatically fell apart.

The Old Trafford manager wants £60million - around twice as much as in recent seasons - to spend on Karim Benzema and David Silva.

He wants those two to underpin the 'tweaking' of a squad who crashed out of the FA Cup and Champions League, then seemingly handed the Premier League title to Chelsea with a tame draw at Blackburn.

But Fergie, 68, is always the last to panic and believes wholesale changes are NOT needed to get back on the trophy trail.

Owners, the Glazers, claim the money left over from the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo is still there to finance deals.

If Fergie gets the go-ahead to splash the cash by debt-ridden United, he will make just a few minor, if expensive, adjustments.

The Scotsman, once told he would win nothing with kids, will trust again in the youth at Old Trafford with United's old guard ready to fall as one team evolves into another.

Rafael might be only 19 but has already proved what an excellent right-back he is, even if his inexperience cost him dearly in the second leg against Bayern Munich with a red card.

In Jonny Evans, 22, there is a ready made replacement for centre-half Rio Ferdinand who is having endless back problems.

Ferguson also has big plans for 20-year-old Chris Smalling who he bought from Fulham this season and loaned back to Roy Hodgson until the summer.

And while the jury is still out on Darron Gibson, the 22-year-old Irish midfielder is just starting to prove his worth.

Fergie has always loved to play with width and in Antonio Valencia, 24, and Nani, 23, he has players who can provide that in abundance.

He snatched a then 18-year-old Wayne Rooney from Everton because he knew what his explosive talents could bring and that is why he will hunt down long-term target Benzema.

Ferguson tried for Benzema, 22, this season but lost out when the striker chose arch European rivals Real Madrid who snatched him for around £35m.

Although Benzema has scored eight goals this campaign his face does not seem to fit at the Bernabeu and United could get him for a 'cut-price' £25m.

Valencia winger Silva, 24, also remains on his hit-list and the struggling Spanish club could do with the £35m he will generate.

The old head of keeper Edwin van der Sar, 39, will survive another season but club captain Gary Neville, 35, is heading for retirement in the summer.

Paul Scholes will also admit at 35 his days of bossing games from midfield are in the past.

Ferguson once went three years without a pot and responded with a hat-trick of titles and a European Cup.

Now he will aim to prove once more his best years at the very top are not in his past."

Man United plan summer move for Everton star

Manchester United are ready to make an audacious swoop for Mikel Arteta.

The classy Everton midfielder is currently involved in contract talks with his Merseyside club, but has so far yet to make any progress in negotiations.

And now Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to test the water with an inquiry to see if his friend David Moyes would be willing to sell.

Arteta still has two years left on his current Goodison deal, but progress in negotiations has been slow, and the Spaniard is aware of other interest from the likes of United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

He is loyal to Everton and has a good relationship with boss Moyes, but at 28 he would like the chance to play in the Champions League and push his international claims.

United boss Fergie holds too much respect for his Everton counterpart Moyes and would never try to steal the player away.

But if Everton do decide that they can’t persuade the midfielder to commit his long-term future then they would be interested, especially if the price was right at about £10million.

Arsenal already see Arteta as a possible replacement should Cesc Fabregas leave, and City have made no admiration for the midfielder.

Everton don’t want to sell and still believe the Spaniard will sign a new deal, and officials at Goodison would be massively reluctant to do any business with City after the bad taste left by Joleon Lescott’s move to Eastlands last summe

£25million price tag for David De Gea

Chelsea and Manchester United target, goalkeeper David De Gea, has been valued at £25million by his club Athletico Madrid.

The 19 year old is wanted by the Premier League giants who may have been put off by such a demanding transfer fee.

De Gea won his first ever European medal this season, as Athletico beat Fulham in the Europa League final.

2009/10 was seen as a breakthrough year for the youngster and he was awarded a place in the 30 man provisional Spanish World Cup squad, but didn't make the cut of 23.

Sergio Asenjo started the season as the first choice 'keeper for Athletico but lost his place to De Gea after the club swapped managers.

Asenjo's arrival at the club last summer prompted Madrid - at the time - to make De Gea available for transfer, with Stoke City turning down a £1.4million option to buy him.

Tony Pulis will live to regret that decision as his value has risen above the £20milllion mark after Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson enquired about his services in the last few days.

Aon the new Sponsor of Manchester United

Manchester United and Aon launched the start of a four-year sponsorship deal at Old Trafford on Tuesday 1 June. ManUtd.com caught up with Aon president and chief executive Greg Case to get the lowdown on the club's new principal sponsor...

It’s almost a year to the day since the deal was first announced. You’ve been waiting a long time for this…We could barely be more excited. Walking into Old Trafford to officially begin the partnership was such an incredible thrill. We’ve done a lot of work over the last year, working together with our friends from Manchester United, to get to this stage, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Nothing prepares you for the sight of Aon and Old Trafford combining together – the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when I walked into this incredible, iconic stadium. It’s a big thrill.

Why Manchester United?
Manchester United is the number one club in the number one sport in the world. It has 90 per cent brand recognition in China, which is incredible. It has 100 per cent in Korea, 90 per cent in Latin America… and everyone knows just how big United is in England and Europe. That kind of brand recognition is simply unmatched, so that’s why this is such a great opportunity for Aon to get involved.

And what about Aon’s credentials?
We work with more companies – big companies, medium-sized companies and small companies – in the area of risk than any other insurance firm in the world. We help companies understand risk, prevent risk and deal with risk… in Chile, for example, we’re currently putting more companies back on their feet than anyone else in the world. Where there’s trauma in the world we help companies recover from that trauma, and we do more of that sort of work than anybody else. Whether it’s insuring a cup of coffee or making sure some of the biggest companies in the world understand risk, Aon is there. 

Just how attractive is the chance to advertise on United’s shirts?
We see it as very unique. As I’ve already outlined, Manchester United’s brand recognition and market penetration is unrivalled around the world. So when you marry that with Aon’s local presence – we’re in 120 countries – we feel it’s a very, very strong partnership.

Were there ever any doubts during the tender process? Or is this the sort of opportunity you’d be mad to turn down?
We were obviously very excited initially and we felt very privileged that we were one of the few companies the club invited to pitch for this sponsorship. We know Manchester United invested a lot of time and money into doing their research on the companies they felt they could potentially work with. But we also did a lot of our own investigating. And I have to say, every stone we turned over, every new piece of information that came to light… they all reaffirmed the power of Manchester United and the potential this partnership could have. Now we hope to fulfil that potential.

Is there more to Aon’s involvement than shirt sponsorship?
Absolutely. We’re also investing in communities all around the world. At Old Trafford on Tuesday we had people taking penalty kicks for charity, raising money for The Christie cancer facility in Manchester. Meanwhile, in 120 countries around the world, Aon staff are investing back into the local communities. We’ve got more than 500 offices and each one has picked their own charity to support during our time with Manchester United.


Have charitable projects always been part of Aon’s vision?
We operate out of more than 500 offices around the world, so we like to think of Aon as a very local firm, as well as a global firm. And part of the Aon legacy has always been to invest back into the communities. With this partnership with Manchester United we want to continue to uphold that ethic and get out there and make a difference. It’s one of the great things about this deal – we’re looking forward to continuing what we’ve always done, but doing it alongside Manchester United, which is the biggest name in global sport. I'm sure a lot of good will come out of this.

For more information on the Aon Manchester United sponsorship, visitwww.aon.com/unitedin2010