Bale

[einar]

Who really knows if we are or not and thats a general view for any player only Rafa and Parry know

I really hope I´m wrong.

We will see.

[Red Chilli]

I dont mean to be an asshole but you are dreaming.

Look, I know I´m jumping the gun here but I am starting to get worried that not much is gonna change in our transfer policy.

And as we all know, if it does not we will never catch up.

You should never have expected massive changes in transfer policy overnight. Rick Parry has said several times we won't be run like some rich guy's plaything.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I really hope I´m wrong.

We will see.

I have the same feeling as you Einar. I feel we dont have the balls when it comes to taken that jump for a player like Aguero pay that little extra for him. I feel we dont do enough to sign players im not a big fan of Parry in this context.

We seem not to bother with spending that big money on a world class player but rather we go for the cheap option. The cheap option can take you the extra mile as we've seen Man Utd,Chelski and Arseanl have all taken chances on big players with big fees and look how its turned out for them. We will only trail behind until our policy changes

[Diego]

You should never have expected massive changes in transfer policy overnight. Rick Parry has said several times we won't be run like some rich guy's plaything.

it's not about being a rich guy's plaything, it's about competing for quality, most of the players we are linked with aside from mascherano (witch some of us rate as a top notch player) are midtable players at most, were going to spend man utd money, and compete for the best players, but were not going to be like chelski and spend 100 mill + every window, but we will fight for rooney at 30 mill and ronaldinho for 25...

[thesilverfoxlfc]

it's not about being a rich guy's plaything, it's about competing for quality, most of the players we are linked with aside from mascherano (witch some of us rate as a top notch player) are midtable players at most, were going to spend man utd money, and compete for the best players, but were not going to be like chelski and spend 100 mill + every window, but we will fight for rooney at 30 mill and ronaldinho for 25...

Well said

[Harv]

I dont mean to be an asshole but you are dreaming.

Look, I know I´m jumping the gun here but I am starting to get worried that not much is gonna change in our transfer policy.

And as we all know, if it does not we will never catch up.

your getting caught up in the hype fella, what has he done that merits 12million pounds?

nothing. You can find players just as good for alot cheaper

[Fiddy]

8mill for a 17 year old who has never played, therefore proved, himself in the premierleague is absurd. Maybe if he was an attacking player that could win games of his own boot...maybe then. But a Lb, no way.

You're wrong there mate - he has won games for them with his own boot. His ability at free kicks has been compared to a 'left-footed Beckham'...I'd be disappointed to see him go to the Scum, especially for any less than £7m

[lfc4ever]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1992137,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=7

Manchester United '90% certain' of signing Bale on sale and loan deal

Stuart James

Wednesday January 17, 2007

The Guardian

Manchester United are edging closer to a deal to sign Gareth Bale, with sources indicating the 17-year-old is "90% certain" to leave Southampton for Old Trafford before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. It is likely that the fee will be significantly more than the £5.5m United want to pay, with Southampton looking for closer to £10m, but an agreement is set to be reached whereby the Premiership club make an initial down payment and the remainder is subject to specific clauses.

Southampton have become resigned to losing Bale after the player, along with his parents, met club officials on Saturday after the home match against Burnley. It is understood those discussions established that Bale, whose contract expires in 18 months, will not consider signing another deal. With Southampton concerned that the player could leave for a lower fee in the summer and United's interest intensifying, Bale's departure is now regarded as a formality.

It is almost certain that Bale will return to Southampton on loan for the remainder of the season. George Burley, Southampton's manager, and Bale are keen that he has the opportunity to help the club win promotion back to the Premiership rather than be a squad player at United for the final four months of the campaign. Should Bale join United before the end of this month he will be prevented from appearing for Southampton until the transfer window closes.

That scenario is unlikely to prove problematic, however, with the defender expected to move to Old Trafford shortly before the end of January. Tottenham, desperate to recruit a left-sided player, have also been tracking Bale but the player has all but made up his mind that he will join Sir Alex Ferguson's side. The pull of United, together with Ryan Giggs's presence - a player Bale knows well from international duty with Wales - means there is effectively no decision to make.

Spurs had an £8m bid rejected last week, with Southampton confident that United's pursuit of the player would drive up the price. Having agreed a deal with Arsenal this time last year for Theo Walcott that could potentially be worth £12m, Southampton hope to secure a fee for Bale close to that figure. United may well balk at such demands but their desire to purchase a player who is regarded as the most promising left-back in the country should prevent any impasse.

Southampton have become similarly keen to reach an agreement following Saturday's talks. Should Bale be allowed to run his current contract down to the final 12 months, which would be his position were he still to be at St Mary's in the summer, his value would diminish further and the Championship club would be faced with the prospect of losing their most prized asset for a significantly lower fee.

[Rocket]

he looked fairly comfortable marking some of the Brazillians playing for Wales.

he would easily be ready for the premiership

[tomasjj]

Insua went to us with out a fight, Bale is going to Man U for 12m with most of the top clubs in Europe interested.

I wonder who is gonna turn out to be the better player?

Relax! Doesn't mean a thing.
Bale does not have much experience, and is more costly cause he is a Brit.

[einar]

your getting caught up in the hype fella, what has he done that merits 12million pounds?

nothing. You can find players just as good for alot cheaper

It would be appr. 6m and then more if he delivers.

[Joey Jones]

It would be appr. 6m and then more if he delivers.

I'd go with that a £6m fee to begin with and further add-ons following appearances etc. Even if the fee eventually reached £12m this lad could play for LFC for the next 10-15 years so he would be value for money.

From what I've seen of him he would be ready for the Premiership now.

[AFII]

And witch big team did we fight of to sign the young Argie?

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and Milan.

[Rocket]

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and Milan.

oh yes, the same 4 teams we fought off to get biscan, diao, le tallec and pongolle.

don't believe the hype.

most argies, being spanish decendents, would surely rather play for Barca or Madrid than play in Liverpool

[Taffy]

I don't understand people with Bale as from what I've seen of the player he seems like he's going to be from the very top drawer within the next 5 years - my only suggestion is that people haven't really seen the lad play.

Gareth Bale looks like he has it all. He has great balance, a great engine, good positioning from what I've seen of his defensive game and has that fantastic dead ball ability - that free kick he scored on his debut for Wales against Slovakia was just brilliant and he's also done the same on numerous occasions for his club this season (enough to win the games for them). He also looks comfortable on the ball and is great at linking play down the left flank offering an attacking option. All this at just 17 and I suggest he's going to be something special - shame he's looking to join the mancs and play week in, week out with his idol Giggsy.

He'll have no problems adapting to the EPL in my opinion as he has it all to be able to cope comfortably with the game at a higher level. In fact I'm looking forward to seeing him play at that level, it's just a shame that it looks like he'll be playing for THEM. I'm sure we've been keeping tabs on him but have we currently got that kind of money to splash out at present? But at the end of the day it'll only cost about 5-6m now for the lad with the rest depending on his success in the future over the length of his contract.