£40m CARRICK
Manchester United are reportedly going to raid White Hart Lane for another English midfielder. Speculation says that Jose Mourinho wants to make Eric Dier his first signing of the summer transfer window. Tottenham will be reluctant to sell though a reasonable offer may test Daniel Levy. Spurs value Dier at £40m. He will become the second midfielder to join Michael Carrick’s £16m move in 2006. Dier has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Carrick.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has given the strongest hint yet that he will stay at United. He Swede sad that he never leaves a job unfinished having previously vowed to win the Premier League. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News at the launch of the Zlatan line of fragrances in the city, Ibrahimovic confirmed that talks were ongoing. ‘Let’s see what happens, we are talking,’ he said. ‘I have an option for another year, I want to do great as long as I’m here, so let us see, there is a lot of time. I’m enjoying being at a fantastic club, without doubts, one of the biggest clubs in the world with a great coach (Jose Mourinho). I know him before (from our time at Inter Milan), he’s a winner, he’s the perfect coach for this club.
THE PERFECT MAGICIAN
Manchester United’s Michael Carrick believes that given the time Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan will become the ‘perfect’ player. Mkhitaryan has impressed in his first season at Old Trafford after over-coming a difficult start under Jose Mourinho. ‘I saw Mkhitaryan for the first time during the pre-season training and I immediately thought he will become a perfect player,’ said Carrick. ‘I’ve told this to Ashley Young as well. Mkhitaryan uses both feet, he is fast. He chooses a right position on the pitch. I like his playing style.’
SLEEVED IT
Manchester United are close to securing a £15m-a-year contact for a sleeve sponsor. The change in rule allows Premier League clubs to wear the logo of their sponsors on the jersey sleeves. United are expected to match or better what any team gets for the same sponsorship patch. Neighbors Man City were the first to jump the gun after signing a £12m a year deal with a South Korean tire company.
ANOTHER NICK
Manchester United are close to securing a transfer for 16 year-old Aliou Traore in yet another coup for the Nicky Butt led Academy Team. Traore surprisingly chose to leave French giants PSG last summer and looks set to cross the channel and sign for the Carrington based-team. He becomes the latest addition to Nicky Butt’s ever growing talented team. He also scored a goal for United in the 7-0 thrashing of Burnley after being invited by the Reds. City are Juventus are also interested in the teenager who has been mooted as a potential Captain for France.