http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Exclusive-Manchester-United-transfer-news-Inter-Milan-midfielder-Wesley-Sneijder-has-hinted-he-is-ready-to-listen-to-United-overtures-possibly-paving-way-for-a-record-breaking-30m-plus-transfer-article717892.html
Wesley Sneijder has offered the first indication he is ready to
listen to Manchester United's overtures.
And that could pave the way for a record-breaking bid by the
Premier League club, as manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks for the
final piece in his latest Old Trafford jigsaw.
The world renowned Dutch international midfielder snubbed a move
by United last season, insisting he preferred instead to stay with
reigning European champions Inter Milan.
That was a real blow to Ferguson, who had targeted the
26-year-old World Cup star as the last - and most valuable -
big-money player he will bring to Old Trafford.
The United boss was so determined to land Sneijder that when he
failed he had no viable alternative, so decided not to make any
significant summer signing.
The Mirror understands the classy Dutch midfielder has now
decided the time is right to move on from the rigid constraints of
Italian football and try the Premier League, which he has always
admitted was a lure for him.
Sneijder signed a new deal with Inter only last summer when he
turned down United's offer, but sources close to the player have
made clear his desire to reconsider his situation at the end of the
season.
United have been made aware of the player's intentions, and have
already been encouraged to make an offer serious enough to persuade
cash-strapped Inter to sell.
Inter's president, Massimo Moratti, said only last week that he
is determined not to sell to the English club, but if the Holland
international remains determined to go and the fee is high enough,
he will have few options but to relent.
Ferguson, for his part, has identified midfield as the key area
to strengthening his current squad, which has a remarkably young
average age, and real, exciting potential.
He has more than a dozen players under the age of 25 with
significant first-team experience but wants more bite in midfield
and more creativity going forward.
Sneijder is now widely regarded as the best in the world at the
latter, and would be an exciting addition to a forward line that
already boasts Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov,
Nani and Antonio Valencia.
Ferguson also wants a mobile, combative, more defensively-minded
midfielder, and has made clear his admiration for Everton's
exciting youngster Jack Rodwell.
But Sneijder is undoubtedly his number one target, and the
latest news from Italy will only encourage the United boss to step
up his efforts to land the midfielder as a long-term replacement
for Paul Scholes.
The Glazer family, United's American owners, have already
sanctioned a significant summer outlay. The Red Devils could be
willing to smash their transfer record - the near-£31million fee
that brought Berbatov to the club.
The key will be the Dutchman's desire to taste English football,
and he has indicated that he is determined to now do that, after
spending two years in the tactically constrained limitations of
Serie A.
Ferguson also wants a keeper, and sources in Spain have this
weekend suggested he has taken a step closer to agreeing a near
£15m deal to land Atletico Madrid's highly-rated David de Gea.
