Boss admits Benzema interest
Sir Alex Ferguson was last night accused of trying to unsettle Lyon
striker Karim Benzema by admitting he is keen to sign him for
£30million. Fergie confirmed his interest in Benzema ahead of
Manchester United's Champions League meeting with Lyon, a tactic
the French club's president claimed was deliberately designed to
unsettled the 20-year-old. Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulus, who hosted
Fergie three weeks ago when the United boss went to watch the
French champions ahead of their European meeting, turned on the
Scot. Aulus said: "When Lyon, during the season, are interested in
a player from another French club, everybody cries 'scandal'. But
when, a few days before playing Manchester United, I read here and
there that Ferguson is going to make an offer for Benzema, is that
not destabilisation?" Despite United's interest, Benzema is under
contract until 2012 and has claimed he wants to stay at Lyon for at
least one more full season, although his club would be unable to
turn down a £30m bid.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
Ahead of the second leg clash with Lyon, The
Sun claims skipper Cris will miss the game at
Old Trafford through injury.
In other news, The Sun reckons United and
Liverpool are eyeing Peterborough’s 6ft 5in
goalkeeper Joe Lewis. Sir Alex Ferguson and Kop
chief executive Rick Parry were at Wrexham on Tuesday night to see
Lewis in action.
