Former Red Denis Irwin has tipped Owen Hargreaves to
make all the difference to United's team next season, and says the
midfielder is Sir Alex Ferguson's best purchase of the
summer.
Reds boss Sir Alex has said that, although attackers Nani and
Anderson will get plenty of games for the Reds next term, they are
"for the future".
However, former full-back Irwin expects Hargreaves to make the
biggest and most immediate impact of the trio.
"Hargreaves really adds something to the squad because I don't
think we've got a player like him in the current side," Irwin told
MUTV. "He had a fantastic World Cup last summer and I just feel
that he is going to be our biggest summer signing."
The signing of Hargreaves ended a year-long chase to bring the
26-year-old England international to Old Trafford. Irwin firmly
believes it will be well worth the wait, adding that Bayern
Munich's reluctance to sell is a very good sign.
"He's got experience having played for Bayern Munich for seven
years," he said. "And their determination to keep him just shows
how valuable he was and how highly they regarded him. I think he's
going to be a really good signing for us."
United fans will get the first glimpse of how Hargreaves settles
into the team when the Reds embark on a four-game tour of the Far
East. The players, who have been training at Carrington, leave on
Sunday before the first match against Urawa Red Diamonds on
Tuesday.