Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan believes
Manchester United will be getting an 'absolute steal' if they sign
Antonio Valencia.
United are hoping to land Ecuador international Valencia
following the decision to accept a world-record £80million offer
from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whelan plans to meet with United and Real, who are also keen on
Valencia, in the coming days, while an unnamed third club have also
shown an interest.
Reports claim United are favourites to nab Valencia, although
the reported £18million asking price is rumoured to be proving a
sticking point.
However Whelan is confident that, for the sums being discussed,
the Premier League champions will be securing a bargain if they
conclude a deal for Valencia.
"I think Antonio is the best wide right player anywhere and that
includes Franck Ribery," Whelan told The People. "If this lad goes
to Man United he will be a sensation there.
"Within a few months and over the course of a season the United
supporters would come to worship this lad.
"We see him week-in, week-out in games and in training and he's
a world-class player. "He doesn't play the same way as Ronaldo.
There is no show or flash, but he's a world-class player and he'll
take some replacing. No-one tackles him or takes the ball off him
because they can't get near him.
"At the kind of money that's been talked about for Antonio he'd
be an absolute steal. United appear to be getting £80m for Ronaldo
and they would be paying out a fraction of that for Valencia, so it
would be great business because this boy has got immense
ability."
