MANCHESTER UNITED have made an official approach to Spurs for
£15million striker Jermain Defoe - after last night selling Ruud
van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid.
The Dutchman, a £12m capture for the Spanish giants, has signed a
threeyear deal worth £90,000-a-week.
United had agreed a similar fee with German champions Bayern Munich
but new Real boss Fabio Capello proved a massive draw for the
Champions League record scorer as he again links up with his ex-Old
Trafford team-mate David Beckham. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is
facing stiff competition from Newcastle to replace Van Nistelrooy
with Defoe (right).
Toon boss Glenn Roeder is desperate to solve the club's striker
crisis by taking Defoe to St James' Park.
But Ferguson - despite boasting Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and rising
star Giuseppe Rossi - is under pressure to reinforce his
attack.
United, who can offer Defoe Champions League football, are in a far
stronger position to lure the marksman than Newcastle.
Ferguson is a known admirer of Defoe, having tracked the youngster
ever since his time at West Ham.
Should be a good buy at 15M. Hardworking, young, fast and skillful
with shooting. 
