United on back foot in Bale race
Stuart Mathieson
24/ 5/2007
UNITED'S left-back merry-go-round could grind to a halt if
Southampton's Gareth Bale is snapped up by Tottenham instead of the
Reds.
All United's senior No 3s - Gabriel Heinze, Patrice Evra and Mikael
Silvestre - are interesting foreign suitors.
Clubs in Italy, France and Spain had been alerted to a potential
mini-clearout to make way for 17-year-old Welsh international
Bale's arrival.
But the Premiership champions are going to have to be quick if they
still want to add Bale to the squad as Tottenham have leapt to the
head of the queue with a bid reportedly accepted. Spurs have had a
bid for Bale on the table since the January transfer window.
They have reportedly offered £6m in cash and then add-ons that
would take the fee eventually up to around £10m.
Saints want money in quickly to keep their head above water and
though manager George Burley is still talking up the possibility of
keeping Bale it is believed the club have resigned themselves to
losing him.
The player has just one-year left on his contract and Southampton
do not want to lose out on a windfall next summer when he'd be a
free agent.
Bale had been for talks at White Hart Lane in January but decided
to stay on until the end of the season at St Mary's Stadium.
But Tottenham's bid still stands and they are said to now be in
pole position.
Interest
If United are still keen they cannot afford to dally but if their
interest has cooled, then it could put the brakes on sales.
Heinze, Evra and Silvestre, who have all contested the left-back
berth this campaign, are all on various shopping lists for the
summer.
Uniteds 2005 Player of the Year Heinze is the most likely
departure as he can buy out the remainder of his two-year contract
by law having served three years of the five-year deal he signed in
2004 when moving from he signed for £7.9m from Paris St Germain for
£7.9m.
Now Juventus, long-term suitors of the Argentinian, are back in
Serie A a move to Italy could tempt Heinze.
Valencia are also understood to be monitoring his situation at Old
Trafford, which is no longer as rock-solid as it once was.
Evras injuries forced him to concede the left-back battle late on
after his early-season form won him Fergies vote. But now he is in
Barcelonas sights.
The Spaniards are looking to replace Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and
are impressed by Evras speed and attacking ability from
defence.
Silvestre wants to remain at Old Trafford but Lyon are keen again,
having been rejected by the defender in January 2006.
If United trump Tottenhams bid for Bale then one of the current
left backs is almost certain to depart.
Even if they dont Heinze might voluntarily trim the numbers in the
department anyway.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1007/1007645__united_on_back_foot_in_bale_race.html
