Manchester United are ready to sign Southampton starlet Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain in a £10million deal. United boss Sir Alex
Ferguson has outsmarted his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger in
the race for the 17-year-old. Fergie has money to spend on several
players this summer and wants to be sure that Oxlade-Chamberlain –
son of former England winger Mark Chamberlain – is one of them.
United will offer Saints £5m up front and double that money on
appearances, with the bonuses paid in reasonable time. The whole
package will be the biggest paid for a teenager. Fergie has been on
the talented attacker’s trail for months and insiders reveal he has
"pulled out all of the stops" to see off the Gunners... Southampton
are keen to have the youngster back on loan if they sell him, but
United plan to use him quickly – with a squad number and a
first-team role for next season. Both the player and his dad want
to be involved in talks and Fergie hopes to tie up a deal in the
next few weeks.
Elsewhere, The Daily Star report Bryan Robson's message
to fans - "It means a lot" - after the reaction he's received from
United supporters to news of his battle with throat cancer. Robbo's
name was sung loudly by the Stretford End immediately after
kick-off on Saturday.
Former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp pays tribute to Sir Alex
in his Daily Mail column. He writes: "Manchester United
have broken my heart many times. It's bred into every player that a
game is not over till it's over. Sir Alex Ferguson takes chances,
throws attacking players on and is rewarded for it. Players win
games; managers change them."