Fergie's eyeing up £8m Anelka
NICOLAS ANELKA emerged last night as a shock target for Sir Alex Ferguson as he looks to take his summer spending past the £50million mark.
The Manchester United manager has been in touch with Bolton over the France striker’s availability, and been told he can have him for £8m.
Ferguson is now weighing up whether to firm up his interest with an offer for Anelka, who has had a nomadic career involving eight moves.
Despite signing Portugal winger Nani, Brazilian attacking midfielder Anderson and anchorman Owen Hargreaves, Ferguson is still looking for a new striker and has focused his sights close to home.
Meanwhile, United’s outlay on Nani and Anderson will eventually total £37m – £20m for Anderson and £17m for Nani – with the fees to be paid in instalments.
Around £4m of the money paid to Porto for Anderson will end up with Jorge Mendes, the Portuguese agent whose clients include Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani. Mendes’ company is understood to ‘own’ the 19-year-old although he will sever his ties once the transfer has been concluded.
United are confident of being granted a work permit through special dispensation for Anderson even though he has yet to win a senior international cap.
Anderson said: “I cannot wait to play in the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Wayne Rooney. It is a dream the size of the world.”
Ferguson’s right-hand man, Carlos Queiroz, said: “It is a significant investment in Manchester United’s prospects for the next 10 years. It is worth imagining a forward line of Ronaldo, Rooney, Nani and Anderson. These are players with enormous potential.”
With Hargreaves’ £17m move from Bayern Munich finally being confirmed yesterday, United have spent £85m in the two years since the takeover by the Glazer family.
