Manchester United near to sign Joe Cole for a Free

Manchester United are reportedly frontrunners in the race to sign Chelsea  midfielder Joe Cole.

The creative playmaker has had trouble coming to an agreement with the Blues over a new contract, with his current deal set to run out on July 1. This has prompted the 28-year-old to be linked with moves to a clutch of clubs.

Now the Daily Mail reports that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has offered Cole a contract to ply his trade at Old Trafford next term, amidst interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus.

The former West Ham United player has in the past maintained that he is entirely focussed on making the final 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup and then giving his best shot for the Three Lions in South Africa.

Manchester United Owners Set for Panorama Treatment: Glazers Set for Probe

Manchester United finances under Glazers to be subject of BBC Panorama investigation
Manchester United’s finances under the ownership of the Glazer family, the club’s £712 million debt and the £80 million raised by the 2009 sale of Cristiano Ronaldo are set to be the subject of an investigation by Panorama, the BBC current affairs programme.

United, who are due to announce quarterly financial results on Friday as a condition of the club’s £500 million bond issue, have yet to co-operate with the programme makers ahead of the proposed screening date of June 7.
But with manager Sir Alex Ferguson having not spoken to the BBC since accusing the corporation of “breathtaking arrogance” following a 2004 Panorama expose into the alleged business dealings of his son, Jason, the programme is unlikely to soothe relations.

Although the investigation is understood to be based on a broad theme of football club ownership and the game’s financial health, the situation surrounding the Glazers and attempts by the Red Knights to launch a supporter-backed takeover bid for United are believed to form the main thrust of the programme.
Despite the Glazer family’s consistently-stated determination to resist any takeover bid, supporter groups behind the green-and-gold anti-Glazer campaign continue to claim that the Americans’ business interests in their home country, which include nationwide shopping malls and real estate, are suffering as a result of the economic downturn.
Those claims, and suggestions that United’s income is being used to service the club’s debt, are understood to form part of the Panorama investigation. (Telegraph)

Now I am sure I am not the only one who hopes that the BBC programme digs some serious dirt on the Glazers but whether or not a televisual feast of embarrassments will have any effect on whether the Manchester United owners decide to leave is another matter.

Clearly the level of debt the club has been saddled with since the Americans arrived is mind boggling and hopefully the programme will try to get to the meat of that debt and present their findings in a manner that is easy to understand.

You see when we, the football fans, see that a club has amassed debts of £712m its hard to quite work out how this has happened. Its clear that the Glazers purchased the club with loans that they then have made the club pay the interest on but I would be interested to know how their previous debts with other ventures has been tied into the club, as these could be the types of problem that take decades to resolve.

Anyway, should be a programme not to be missed!

Jose Mourinho wants to coach Rooney

Jose Mourinho has admitted he would like to coach Wayne Rooney, but says his dream will not come to fruition.

The Portuguese tactician guided Inter Milan to a remarkable treble last season, clinched by their UEFA Champions League final victory overBayern Munich.

But he is set to be named the new manager of Real Madrid next week, following the departure ofManuel Pellegrini.

The soon-to-be Los Merengues boss has already revealed he would love Liverpool and Chelsea midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to join him at Madrid, and has now shown his admiration for Rooney.

However, Mourinho admits Manchester Unitedmanager Sir Alex Ferguson would never let the star forward leave Old Trafford.

"I'll say it is impossible," he told AS.

"I would like to coach Rooney but my friend Ferguson can rest easy - it is impossible."

Manchester United is not For Sale

United 'not for sale'

Statement from the Manchester United Board:

"The Board notes recent press speculation regarding a possible bid for Manchester United.

"The owners remain fully committed to their long-term ownership of the club. Manchester United is not for sale and the owners will not entertain any offers."

Man UTd to beat Arsenal in Eden Hazard

United have been linked with a spate of big names, but few sound quite as flamboyant and interesting as Eden Hazard. But, rather than some utopian menace, the 19-year-old is actually a tricky Belgian. The talented Lille winger is France's reigning young player of the year and has allegedly caught the eye of United and Arsenal, according to Caughtoffside. The nominated fee is £13million, and personally I hope we pay it, if only for the headline potential.

SAF You have money to spend at Transfer Market :David Gill

Gill: Sir Alex is not restricted financially

It is five years ago this month that David Gill led the final doomed boardroom stand at Manchester United against the Glazer family's takeover. He was the chief executive who went overnight from running a business that was debt-free to one that now supports £504m of the total £716m debt that the American owners borrowed in order to buy the club. Five years later, three Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy down the road, the Glazers are still reviled by the most vocal elements of the club's support, most notably the fans who wear the green and gold of Newton Heath in protest. Gill, once the hero of the supporters' groups for standing up to the Glazers, now finds himself a target for their anger.  In his most detailed interview yet, the man at the centre of United and the controversial Glazer regime spoke exclusively to The Independent about why he thinks United can still prosper. "The money is there," insists Gill. "People say Alex is saying that because he has to. Anyone who knows Alex Ferguson knows he wouldn't say that if he didn't mean what he said. The money is definitely there. The results for the quarter ending 31 March will show the figures are about £95m cash. We are not in a situation whereby Alex is restricted in what he wants to do with the club and his modus operandi as a manager. We have never said: "You can't do that, we have to pay interest [on the debt]." I can look you in the eye and say that. He would say exactly the same thing. People don't believe it. We never said to him: "You can't go for that player because he's too much."
Sam Wallace, The Independent

All the papers report that United have completed the deal to sign Javier Hernandez after the Mexico striker was granted a work permit. His transfer from Chivas will now through on July 1 as revealed on ManUtd.com on Thursday.

Source: Manutd.com

Manchester United Express Interest In £18 Barcelona Midfielder Yaya Toure

Manchester United are reportedly considering making an offer for Barcelona defensive midfielder Yaya Toure. The Ivorian has struggled to retain a place in the Nou Camp starting line up due to Pepe Guardiola’s decision to turn to youngster Sergio Busquets on a more regular basis and this has left the former Monaco man to consider his future at the Catalan giants.

Sir Alex Ferguson could well do with a solid central midfielder after seeing Owen Hargreaves spend the best part of two seasons out injured. His other options have also suffered severe dips in form with Anderson and Michael Carrick both having very average seasons last term. The likes of Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes continue to be consistent performers but neither are out and out battlers who actively seek to break down opposition attacks, which is what Toure does best.

An added bonus would be the fact that the 27 year old is also a very adept centre back, as he proved in the 2009 Champions League Final against Man United. Arsenal and Manchester City have both been linked with a move for the battling powerhouse.

The £18m rated Barca man will have to think long and hard about any offers for his services this summer and if he puts in a good World Cup the speculation may increase even further. Yaya will surely not be happy to warm the bench in this period of his career and would surely be interested in a move to Old Trafford.

Chicharito granted work permit

Manchester United is pleased to announce that Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez has been granted a work permit and will join the club on 1 July 2010.
  The Reds agreed a fee with Chivas de Guadalajara for the Mexico striker last month, but were required to apply for the permit because he has played in less than 75 per cent of his country's fixtures over the last two years.

Chicharito, who has already passed a medical and agreed personal terms, will join United's squad on the Philadelphia leg of July's pre-season trip to the USA and Canada.

Whether the 22-year-old makes his debut in that game will depend on how far Mexico progress in the World Cup. But he'll definitely be involved in the friendly United will play to open the new 45,000-capacity Chivas Stadium in Guadalajara at the end of July.

Chicharito was a second-half substitute in his country's 3-1 defeat by England on Monday, before scoring in a 2-1 reversal against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Mexico complete their World Cup preparations with friendlies against Gambia and Italy in the next week, then kick off the tournament against hosts South Africa on 11 June.

Wayne Rooney in Action

Manchester United Plan To Cite Javi Hernandez's 'Exceptional Ability' To Seal Work Permit For Striker

United to highlight Javier Hernandez talent
Manchester United will cite Mexican forward Javier Hernandez as an 'exceptional talent' when they plead their case to the Football Association in an effort to secure a work permit for the 21 year-old this week. Although United have agreed a £7 million deal with Chivas Guadalajara for Hernandez, the club must convince the FA, charged by the Home Office with administering the process, to grant a certificate of sponsorship in order to endorse his application. Hernandez, a second-half substitute in Monday's 3-1 defeat by England, has yet to be awarded a permit due to his failure to play in 75 per cent of Mexico's fixtures over the last two years. Although Hernandez has been described as Mexico's brightest talent for a generation, United are mindful their application is not guaranteed to be successful. To secure a work permit, United must convince the FA panel that Hernandez is an elite player who could not be recruited within the European Union for a similar valuation