Eto'o to cost £40m?

[AFII]

Barcelona tell Man Utd £40M for Eto'o
tribalfooball.com - May 09, 2007

Manchester United have been told it will cost £40 million to prise Samuel Eto'o away from Barcelona.

The Independent says the approach was made last month by United's chief executive David Gill and although the newly crowned Premiership champions have not given up hope of landing the Cameroonian striker, they have made clear they will not pay what Barcelona want.

Any deal would be fraught with difficulties not least because Eto'o is unsure whether he really wants to leave Barca and come to the Premiership. An added complication is that the 26-year-old is understood to have recently sacked his long-standing lawyer, Jose Maria Mesalles, who also acts as his agent, and is himself conducting negotiations over his future.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been interested in Eto'o for some time and it would be a real coup if he could land the player especially as he was, last summer, Chelsea's main transfer target before they decided to sign Andrei Shevchenko. Eto'o has also interested Arsenal, who are desperate to acquire a leading striker, although manager Arsene Wenger is aware that he may not have the funds to compete.

[einar]

More TV money means higher prices for players I guess.

[Guest]

No mention of us here.

[AFII]

I wouldn't sign him for £40m. Rafa won't have an endless transfer kitty IMO so £40m would take away a big part of what he can spend.

You can get three excellent players for that price.

Alves, G.Milito and Huntelaar for example.

[Guest]

I wouldn't sign him for £40m. Rafa won't have an endless transfer kitty IMO so £40m would take away a big part of what he can spend.

You can get three excellent players for that price.

Alves, G.Milito and Huntelaar for example.

I'd guess we would already have made tentative enquiries about him. Rafa was talking about being 'smarter' and 'quicker' than our opponents in our transfer dealings and that's why he wanted to talk to the americans.

Eto'o and Villa are top of our shopping lists, so I expect our new owners to pull out all the stops to sign Rafa's top targets. We won't miss out this summer.

[AFII]

If we can afford Eto'o plus Rafas other top transfer targets then I hope we sign him but not if signing him means that Rafa can't afford one or two of his other possible signings.

[Guest]

If we can afford Eto'o plus Rafas other top transfer targets then I hope we sign him but not if signing him means that Rafa can't afford one or two of his other possible signings.

We'll get all our targets this season. Money won't be a problem I think. Next season will be the season we finally challenge for the league.

[AFII]

It looks like Henry will replace him and that Carson won't move to Arsenal.

HENRY'S 'CLOSE TO BARCA DEAL'
By John Cross 10/05/2007

BARCELONA president Joan Laporta last night claimed the Spanish giants have agreed a deal to sign Thierry Henry this summer.

Laporta let slip his bold claim while giving a speech in America at the Stanford University as he said: "I'm closing the signing of Henry."

And it was also claimed on Radio Catalunya that Laporta said an initial agreement had been reached with Arsenal for the striker and now it was down to personal terms.

Henry has endured a frustrating season at the Emirates due to injury.

The 29-year-old Frenchman has also clashed with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger over his fitness.

Meanwhile, Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski yesterday completed his £3million move to Arsenal from Legia Warsaw.

CLICKY - The Mirror

[Lecter]

I wouldn't sign him for £40m. Rafa won't have an endless transfer kitty IMO so £40m would take away a big part of what he can spend.

You can get three excellent players for that price.

Alves, G.Milito and Huntelaar for example.

I heard we were prepared to pay in the region of £30 million for Eto'o

Lets wait and see what happens

It appears we are well and truely into silly season with the amount of bollocks being spouted by journos

By the way I dont think you would have a cat in hells chance of getting Alves, G. Milito & KJH for £40 million

[Guest]

By the way I dont think you would have a cat in hells chance of getting Alves, G. Milito & KJH for £40 million

Let him fantasize Lecter, you're smashing his dreams.

[Slim]

I can't see Man U spending £40m on one player.

[Lecter]

Let him fantasize Lecter, you're smashing his dreams.

Some of his posts recently make him sound more like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz

[Guest]

Some of his posts recently make him sound more like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz

I do feel that Rafa has spelt out to the americans that we need to get our house in order as regards to transfer dealings this summer. I don't feel Rafa would be too pleased if we miss out on his No.1 targets once again. The question is, would they spend the required sum if needed ?

[Lecter]

I do feel that Rafa has spelt out to the americans that we need to get our house in order as regards to transfer dealings this summer. I don't feel Rafa would be too pleased if we miss out on his No.1 targets once again. The question is, would they spend the required sum if needed ?

That would suggest an open cheque book

I dont believe tghat will be the case

A definitive budget will be given and Rafa will have to work within the confines of that

Whether thats £50 million or £70 million is the big question

[red g]

I think Rafa will be allowed a tatement of intent this summer. I also think that the G & T have been astonished at our fans, the premiership and even they have talked about it how much money the premiership is awash with. I reckon we WILL get Eto-o at whatever he costs as well as 2 or 3 other players such as Alves and tevez.

I would say 90% of the budget is on attacking players this summer and i for one cant f'in wait.

the Americans didnt expect us to get to another eruo final so if thats NOTHER 25 million in the coffers and they had already told rafa when they first met he would have lots of money, this summer is going to be a good one.

This summer our hopes will noit be dashed, i feel it in my bones