EXCLUSIVE: United plan £22m swoop for Gunner By David McDonnell
SIR ALEX FERGUSON is ready to launch a staggering £22million bid for inspirational Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira. The Manchester United boss has instructed his board to make a formal offer for long-term target Vieira, right, who he tried to sign two years ago. Vieira has just one year left on his current deal and it is understood the Highbury board, while reluctant to lose their most influential player, feel they could not turn down such an offer. The signing of Vieira would represent the biggest transfer coup of modern times but it is one Fergie and the Old Trafford board feel they can complete following the sale of David Beckham. Fergie and the United board expect an initial hostile response in their attempt to sign the prized asset from Arsene Wenger's title rivals, but believe the size of the offer could clinch the deal. United will be able to finance it with money from the Beckham deal and the expected £14.2m transfer of unsettled midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron to Juventus. Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has been in touch with United about Veron via his son, Alessandro, and a deal is expected to be concluded in the next fortnight. Vieira is known to have become disillusioned with Arsenal's lack of success in the Champions League and the lack of spending power. There are no such restrictions at United and Vieira knows he would almost double his current £60,000-a-week wages at a club who do not possess such a strict wage structure as Arsenal. United are ready to offer the 26-year-old a four-year deal. Only last season, Fergie made the bold claim that every player wanted to join United. "They all want to come here," he said. "Even Vieira wanted to come here a couple of seasons ago." With Roy Keane not the force of old, Fergie has been looking for a dynamic figure to command the centre of midfield. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> $50 - $100 gift card with digital cameras & camcorders $299 & up Now you can have the digital camera or camcorder of your dreams, and a gift card to put towards a future purchase. Excludes select models. http://us.click.yahoo.com/bHgiAD/FjRGAA/ySSFAA/tsUolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
