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

Manchester United Consider Move for £12m Barcelona Star Bojan

Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly interested in signing Barcelona starlet this summer as he looks to strengthen his attacking options. The Manchester United boss is apparently ready to make an offer for the £12m rated teenager and hopes that he can tempt the Catalan giants into selling a player who is something of a cult hero at the Nou Camp.

The 19 year old attacker has found first team opportunities limited over the past season and may feel that the time is right to make a move from the La Liga title holders now that Pepe Guardiola has signed up David Villa last week.

Manchester United are keen to bring in attacking alternatives to help share Wayne Rooney’s burden. Michael Owen’s constant injury woes and Dimitar Berbatov’s poor form have left Ferguson relying too much on his England international goal machine.

Bojan only managed 16 starts last season but managed to impressively net 12 goals in all competitions.

New Manchester United Away Kit… Not Good

Another Marmite kit for next season. I think it’s dated and lacking even a scintilla of style (the new sponsor’s logo is terrible too), but… I might change my mind when I see it on Wazza’s back.

What say you – hit or shit?

United will fight City for Paulo Henrique Ganso's signature

Manchester United representatives have made contact with Santos about young midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso. 

Manchester City are believed to have first refusal on the 20-year-old as a result of the deal struck over City's on loan striker Robinho. However, City's option will expire when that loan ends on August 4. 

Joe Cole Near to sign United

LONDON, May 30: Manchester United have signed Mexican striker Javier Hernandez from Chivas of Guadalajara for £8m and centre-back Chris Smalling from Fulham for £12m – and Chelsea’s England forward Joe Cole could be next on the list.

But this does not mean that United are splashing the cash. Quite the opposite. United’s reported interest in the England forward may be a sign that the Glazer family are continuing to play careful with their money . . . because Cole would be available on a free transfer since his contract with Chelsea is coming to an end.

Chelsea, apparently, have not contacted Cole or his representatives about a contract extension as the 28-year-old had hoped. He is seeking a pay rise to £100,000-a-week and though the club is said to have been prepared earlier to pay ‘only’ £80,000 even that offer has been withdrawn.

This knowledge has prompted interest from United as well as from Tottenham whose manager, Harry Redknapp, oversaw Cole’s emergence as a teenager at West Ham. However the fact that United are interested in Cole, just as they signed Michael Owen on a free transfer last year from Newcastle, has added to speculation about the Glazers’ reluctance to buy big.

United have just announced losses of £69m in the first three months of the year thought chief executive David Gill has continued to suggest that transfer funds will be available for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Also, the latest accounts indicate that United have cash reserves of £95m which might be available for team strengthening.

Other targets

But with Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs growing ever older and no guarantees yet over the fitness of Owen Hargreaves, Ferguson may feel he needs to save up whatever he can for a new midfielder. He also knows he may need to spend more money on defence if the unsettled Nemanja Vidic finally leaves for Spanish football.

It is a sign of the times that Scholes and veteran defender Gary Neville, both now 35, are considering joining the coaching staff when they end their playing careers, possibly at the end of next season.

Meanwhile, any prospect of the Red Knights group of wealthy fans coming to the “financial rescue” with a buy-out offer which the Glazers could not refuse is receding.

No offer has yet been made or appears even imminent. Gill has always been sceptical about the prospect of a serious offer. The Sunday Times reports today that the Glazers' valuation of the club at £1.5bn has deterred a number of the consortium members.