Roy Keane is ready to turn to Manchester United forward
Louis Saha as the Barclays Premier League champions are willing to
let him go on a payas- you-play deal.
Roma and Fulham have already snubbed the chance to sign the
29-year-old. Roma were keen to sign the France forward on loan,
followed by a possible free transfer, but baulked when informed
they would have to pay a set fee after a certain amount of
appearances.
Fulham also dropped out of the running for their former striker
when told of the financial implications of signing a player
currently on £70,000-a-week. That, however, has not deterred Keane
as he bids to add firepower to a squad seriously weakened by the
knee injury Kenwyne Jones picked up in an international friendly
with England.
Sir Alex Ferguson wants to offload Saha as he continues his
pursuit of Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov. Saha's career at United
has been dogged by injury since his £12.8million transfer from
Fulham in 2004, and Ferguson is so eager to offload the striker
that he will let the player go for nothing, initially at least.
The forward's £3.5m-a-year salary has scared off would-be
suitors, but Keane believes the player would represent good value
if he can be persuaded to take a pay cut to move to the Stadium of
Light.
Keane is ready to begin transforming a squad who struggled to
stay up last season. He has again been promised major financial
backing and is prepared to spend £10m to land Celtic left back Lee
Naylor, Steaua Bucharest centre half Dorin Goian and Reading winger
Stephen Hunt.
The Sunderland manager is also weighing up a move for
Tottenham's Steed Malbranque, and is keeping tabs on Andy Johnson.
However, the striker favours a move to Wigan.
