Transfer news and Rumours: 2009-10

Kimi

New Manchester United striker Michael Owen admits he leapt at the chance to join the Barclays Premier League champions.

This came after a surprise phone call from manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 29-year-old, whose contract with relegated Newcastle expired at the end of June, has signed a two-year deal at Old Trafford.

Owen's poor injury record over recent years which blighted his spell at St James' Park was thought to be a major factor in the unwillingness of most of England's top clubs to consider taking him on a free transfer.

With the likes of Hull and Stoke publicly declaring their interest in the former Liverpool and Real Madrid player it seemed Owen was destined to have to accept a substantial drop in both wages and the standard of football which he craved.

In fact, his advisors he had just begun negotiations with a number of interested parties before a surprise phone call from Ferguson changed the outlook on everything.

"I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me," said Owen.

"I agreed without a moment's thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands.

"I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here.

"I missed pre-season last year and am pleased that I will be starting at Carrington from day one.

"I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances."

He added to MUTV: "It feels great. When I got the call from the manager to come round and meet him it was a shock, but I'm obviously really happy.

"I've had a poor spell up at Newcastle but prior to that my career was very good, and I'm sure a top club like this can re-ignite my career."

Owen added that his fitness problems of recent seasons should not be a concern for United's fans.

"I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical," he said.

"I passed my medical and I've obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high. A lot is made out of it but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury prone."

Ferguson has been a long-time admirer of Owen and his signing does not represent as much of a gamble as some have made out.

The fact Owen was a free agent, and that he is believed to have agreed a basic salary with pay-as-you play bonuses, means the Old Trafford boss has nothing to lose.

And Ferguson, who lost out to Real Madrid in the race to sign Lyon striker Karim Benzema, can see through the injury woes which have robbed Owen of what should have been the prime years of his career.

He believes there is still plenty to come from a player who scored 158 goals in 297 matches for Liverpool and struck 40 times in 89 England internationals.

"Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question," said the United boss.

"Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish."

Owen will hope moving to United, with the promise of Champions League football again, will help his bid to force his way back into Fabio Capello's England squad.

That is particularly important with a World Cup - likely to be Owen's last major tournament - looming next summer.

He no doubt thinks he will be helped by regularly playing alongside Capello's first-choice forward Wayne Rooney at United.

If he remains injury-free he should still be able to score goals considering the amount of creativity United have on the field - one factor he desperately lacked during his disappointing spell at Newcastle.

Owen may not replace the sheer number of goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Ferguson sold to Madrid for a world-record £80million, or the work-rate of Carlos Tevez, who appears on the verge of a move to Manchester City after his lease agreement ran out at Old Trafford, but he has the knack of scoring at important times.

It is that pedigree which Ferguson hopes will shine through next season.

C.Ronaldo

I hope he proves good!

knoughtyd

He is on a free transfer so even if He helps beat Liverpool in the Two Matches during the season that would be worth it

prongs

Owen..............

Its been a long time to see him play............ remmeber how he used to score great goals in his liverpool and England days,,

C.Ronaldo

yes but these days he's not that good

Hope that he make his return form at Old Trafford!

Kimi

Manchester United are thinking of acquiring Yaya Toure, as Owen Hargreaves’ situation does not seem to be getting any better.

Hargreaves has only appeared in 25 games since arriving at Old Trafford in 2007, with the Red Devils worrying about his long-term availability, especially after two major knee surgeries in successive campaigns.

The Daily Mail are claiming that Man United are planning a raid of the Nou Camp for Toure. The enforcer's time at the club seemed to be at an end at the start of the offseason, but with a contract extension inked, it seems the Ivorian will continue his adventures with La Blaugrana.

However, with Barca heavily linked with Javier Mascherano and other similar midfielders, the Red Devils are preparing for the chance that Pep Guardiola could be tempted to sell for the right price.

However, Toure is viewed as one of the keys to Barcelona's success at the moment. The Ivory Coast midfielder was ever-present in Barca's historic treble-winning season, with Guardiola even gambling with Toure in the centre of defence for the Champions League final.

Kimi

Arsenal has placed a £40million ransom on Cesc Fabregas’ head as they prepare themselves for a Spanish war.

A Gunners insider said: "Nobody at Arsenal wants to see Fabregas go but there comes a point when the money is too good to turn down."

"If Arsenal receive a bid in the region of £40m there will be an enormous pressure to sell."

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is in serious need of funds to bolster his team for another season of title contention in the Barclays Premier League.

The departure of midfield maestro Fabregas would inevitably leave a void in the Gunner's arsenal, but Wenger's charges put together a 20-match unbeaten streak when the Spaniard was out injured in the last campaign.

Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona appear to be the frontrunners for Fabregas and will apparently table a bid for him this week.

La Blaugrana supremo Joan Laporta even hinted that he almost made an offer last week.

Laporta publicly invited the Arsenal skipper to declare his desire to return to his boyhood club. And he said: "Cesc has Barcelona in his DNA and I think that one day he should play for Barca."

"We all like him very much - the technical director, the manager, as well as me. He's always been in our thoughts."

Fabregas has fluttered back-and-forth between both Spanish titans as he labeled his current club as "impotent" for failing to win anything of note for a few seasons.

He said: "The absence of titles at Arsenal is what angers me the most. Cristiano Ronaldo said he's leaving Manchester United because he had nothing else to win. For me right now it is the exact opposite, seeing the impotence."

Fabregas even went a step further to antagonise his Gunners fans by saying that his Catalan family would back him if he went to the Bernabeu.

He added: "Of course my family would understand because they love me, they want me to be happy. They'd support me whichever club I joined."

Fabregas has since retracted the statement on the official Arsenal website, claiming that he wants to win at the Emirates Stadium.

Kimi

Real has launched a 55 mn £ bid for Ribery including transfer of Robben & Sneijder worth 40 mn £........

C.Ronaldo

Foster signed to United till 2013!

England international Ben Foster has committed his future to Manchester United by penning a contract extension that will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2013.

The 26-year-old moved to United from Stoke City four years ago since when he has been restricted to only ten first-team appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

Injuries have limited his first-team chances for United and he spent the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns on loan at Watford, featuring in 81 matches for the Hornets.

Source: football.co.uk

Kimi

Chelsea were also interested in signing Franck Ribery, admitted new Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti.

But the Italian also thinks Ribery will be staying at Bayern this season.

Chelsea have already bought in Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge and Yuri Zhirkov to Stamford Bridge.

And Ancelotti has confirmed he remains in the market for additions and has outlined his plans to bring in a creative player.

Ribery has been strongly linked with a move away from Bayern, with Real Madrid considered the favourites to land his signature.

Bayern, though, have remained adamant that Ribery is not for sale, and Ancelotti seems to have accepted he may be forced to look elsewhere for reinforcements.

"Chelsea are a strong team, a physical team doing very well," said the Italian, who was unveiled to the media on Monday.

"They can be improved with some creative players. We are looking for these creative players.

"Ribery is, for sure, a great, great player. But Ribery, I think, he will stay in Bayern Munich.

"Madrid can buy Ribery, I know. Not only Ribery, but (Liverpool midfielder) Alonso as well. I know how many players Madrid can buy."