United ready to move for City's England defender
FERGIE TAKES THE MICAH
EXCLUSIVE by ANDY DUNN
SIR ALEX FERGUSON is ready to make a dramatic move for England star Micah Richards.
The Manchester United boss has earmarked Richards as his No1 target — and the news will push Manchester City into even deeper crisis.
Richards, 19, only recently signed a contract designed to keep him at Eastlands until 2013. But his future is now unclear as owner Thaksin Shinawatra plans a summer overhaul of the club.
And Sport of the World understands that a bid of around £25million would be sufficient for Shinawatra to sell Richards, who is one of those players said to be unhappy about the imminent departure of Sven Goran Eriksson.
Shinawatra's muppets on a string: Click here for full story
Man Utd 4, West Ham 1: Click here for full report and picture special
Bizarrely, Shinawatra has put all player business on hold for the foreseeable future.
And I understand that could lead to the departure of key stars such as Richard Dunne and Joe Hart as well as the jewel in the crown, Richards.
Wages
Dunne, with just one year of his current deal left, has been given the cold shoulder by Shinawatra even though the player's agents have tried to get round the table to secure the defender's future.
And that looks certain to send Dunne, 28, into the arms of Newcastle's Kevin Keegan.
Hart's situation is just as worrying. He signed a long-term deal when he joined from Shrewsbury less than two years ago.
But his wages do not match his first team status and his progression to the fringe of England's senior team.
Plans had been made to draw up a new deal that would put him on a wage compatible with his new status but that has been shelved and Hart, who has attracted the attentions of Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, is now bound to be the target of other Premier League clubs.
But it is the possibility that Richards could move across the city that will outrage Blues most.
Richards turns 20 next month and while City are realistic enough to know that one of the Big Four is likely to come calling, they had hoped he would stay for several years.
And there are also some people within the City hierarchy who believe the club would be best served by selling Richards if they got an offer well in excess of £20million.
From the player's point of view, a move to his club's bitter rivals would be difficult.
And he would have to accept that he would be joining as a right-back - forming a dream back four for Fergie of Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra.
But United would be able to almost double his £45,000 a week wages and Richards would be playing Champions League football.
Ideally, Arsenal would be the favoured destination if Richards was to be sold by City but Ferguson rarely fails to land someone he has labelled his number one target.
Good bit of business from Man Utd, buy home grown. How many do they have at the moment. Arsenal and Chelsea learn from the masters. Home grown players understand the English game best and will make England future world cup holders again.
Posted by: Brian | May 04, 2008 at 06:34 AM | Report this comment
Right, so Man Utd look to spend £25m on a defender and we all have to applaude that he's Home Grown. When Chelsea spend money its 'your trying to buy success'? PS Hope Chelsea buy Richards and have 3 out of Englands back 4!
Posted by: carpy | May 04, 2008 at 08:14 AM | Report this comment
Rafa take note, please you to have to break bank again this season for Micah, he is quality and that's what Liverpool should be aiming at, instead of instead of fringe buys like Pennant and some of the foreign cheap buys.
Posted by: Niko | May 04, 2008 at 08:21 AM | Report this comment
Rafa take note, Man U are on the verge of winning the title and already are thinking of bringing such quality - if possible break bank to land Micah and any quality players instead of fronge average players like Pennant. Torres should be an example of what you get when you spend big but wisely.
Posted by: Ata-k | May 04, 2008 at 08:25 AM | Report this comment
Absolutely right Brian. Man Utd. are the biggest spenders in world football according to the statisticians, but criticise anyone who spends the sort of sums they do. Arrogant hypocrits. 30mill. Ferdinand , 30 mill Rooney , 28 mill Veron , 20 mill Ronaldo, 18 mill Carrick etc etc etc.
Posted by: Neal | May 04, 2008 at 08:56 AM | Report this comment
Its well known in football circles that micah is an arsenal fan ,and with the brand of football they play its little wonder.i dont think man u or liverpool could attract him and he is a bit of a weirdo with his threesomes and party life style.i think he's a massive risk despite his obvious talent.alan hutton of spurs is the best right back in england and is also british.
Posted by: realvandal | May 04, 2008 at 08:59 AM | Report this comment
WHAT GIVES FERGUSON THE RIGHT TO BUY SOMEONE FROM A LOCAL RIVAL WHEN HE DOESNT LET HIS PLAYERS JOIN A RIVAL TEAM!!! REMEMBER NOT LETTING LIVERPOOL BUY HEINZE!!! IF I WERE CITY ID TELL HIM TO RAM IT.
FERGUSON SHOULD BE PUT IN HIS PLACE, IF HE IS SUCH A GOOD MANAGER WHY DONT HE GO BACK TO SCOTLAND AND MANAGE THEIR POOR TEAM, LETS SEE HOW GOOD HE IS.
Posted by: WAYNE HENTON | May 04, 2008 at 09:08 AM | Report this comment
Ronaldo ONLY cost £7.7 million, NOT £20 million or even £12 million that is always quoted. £12 million was the total package i.e. £7.7 million transfer fee and the rest was how much his contract (wages) was over 5 years.
United was still a plc when they bought him so had to list it all to the stock exchange, read it for yourself if you want.
£7.7 million!! Absolute bargain!!!
Posted by: A Smith | May 04, 2008 at 10:09 AM | Report this comment
I would be very surprised if we sign Richards. It would be like Gerrard going to Everton. Don't get me wrong i would love to see him at utd next season. Just imagine Rio, Nemanja, Eva and Richards. What a back 4 that would be. All we need then is Karim Benzema from Lyon up front. Then stop us Abramovich, you could spend £180m on Messi and it wouldn't make any difference.
Posted by: Alan Churchward | May 04, 2008 at 10:11 AM | Report this comment
Oh dear, listen to you lot. Its embarrassing looking at you all getting catty at eachother about a news story!
Ferguson is a great manager realvandal, look at his work with Aberdeen before joining utd, it shows where time and investment into a team pays off, too many chairmen do not give managers the chance to establish their ways with a team and make an impact. Dein did it with Wenger and he is the only other manager who has made an impact to Ferguson!
About money, im sure if utd signed Richards they would be applauding the fact that he was home grown, but english players are all getting massive transfer fee's, look at what people are asking for lampard, and he isnt really that good! Gareth Barry will collect a huge fee this summer no doubt, but who cares, im just proud that the premiership has been awesome this year and we have 3 teams in the semi's of the champions league! Stop biting at each other, and enjoy the football.....
Posted by: Tommo | May 04, 2008 at 10:13 AM | Report this comment
Realvandal dosen't think much of MUFC manager Fergusan. Just imagine if we only had a good manager!
Posted by: David | May 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM | Report this comment
Wayne your right about ronaldo, but what about all the other signings you tit. Veron, Carrick, Rio, Hargreaves and players like Kleberson, Forlan, Taibi, Djemba Djemba, Saha, nani 20 million Carrick lol 18 million for Carrick thats crazy. You then look how much someone like Wenger has spent in last 3 or 4 seasons, whole team cost, Almunia 2 million SAGNA 6 MILLION CLICHY 500 GRAND TOURE 500 GRAND GALLAS FREE HLEB 10 MILLION CESC FREE FLAMINI FREE WALCOTT 5 MILLION RISING TO 10 RVP 2.5 ADEBAYOUR 6 its a jokes and also wenger has brought his duds, how can united fans even argue the volumes of money spent at old trafford, in my mind out of last summers transers by united only anderson looks to be worth it, the rest of them have alot to prove, note tevez contract is very confusing
Posted by: Cyrus Larijani | May 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM | Report this comment
David you prat....
how about the millions Wenger has spent on players/flops????
Reyes springs to mind!!
And where the hell did youget the idea that Gallas was free?????
As i recall, he cost in excess of £20M, as he was a direct swap for cole.... Get your facts right!!!!!
Posted by: Gangster | May 04, 2008 at 11:17 AM | Report this comment
WIT POOR TEAM IN SCOTLAND YA **** RANGERS AND CELTIC WOULD HOLD THEIR OWN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!!
Posted by: Gav | May 04, 2008 at 11:19 AM | Report this comment
come on manu go for who ever you want micah richards is good just 19, again home grown the only premier team with about 6 -8 players all HOME GROWN are they jealous? of you fergi and what you have achieve. they dont understand you dont sell players to arsenal liverpool or chelsea, that is for years now, so what are they talking about, check out kenwyn jones from sunderland? stupppps they all sucks. stay up MANU I LOVE YOU
Posted by: jen pure trini | May 04, 2008 at 11:32 AM | Report this comment
it looks like utd are trying to buy the title again next season people say chelski buying it but utd have spend about 85m last season and bought it this year
Posted by: kev | May 04, 2008 at 12:04 PM | Report this comment
i dont think he will come anyway yeah it would be a good buy but i dont see it happening
Posted by: katie j | May 04, 2008 at 12:47 PM | Report this comment
micah ricahrds would complete the already best defence in the world!!!all young and fresh and that would give united some height power eswell.great signing he would be plus all the other signings joining united in the summer....united will be the best team for a long time to come and will surpas liverpool in league titles..
Posted by: david falzon | May 04, 2008 at 12:51 PM | Report this comment
Come dudes you know that if he supports Arsenal he would go there. Why would he put himself through the torture of going back City is a scum shirt.
Posted by: Seán Radcliffe | May 04, 2008 at 12:56 PM | Report this comment
MAN UNITED V CHELSKI
The difference between Man u and Chelski is that Man u can spend their own HARD EARNED cash while all Chelski do is RELY on their russian chairman!
End of
Posted by: John Smith | May 04, 2008 at 03:22 PM | Report this comment
let the transfer war begin on micah, all i know is oldham athletic get a percentage of the transfer and it will a boost to the latics when it happens.
Posted by: chris | May 04, 2008 at 05:05 PM | Report this comment
UTD spend money they get from winning leagues. Simple! Chelsea spent money they got from their oil tycoon.
Posted by: John | May 04, 2008 at 05:10 PM | Report this comment
to realvandal ..think you talk too much. fergi did manage a team in scotland thats how he got the job ..dafty... plus i think united should spend what ever they like on players.. as they are the ones makin it ..more cups we win the more money we get UNITED TILL I DIE
Posted by: stevie | May 04, 2008 at 05:12 PM | Report this comment
why do people still talk about arsenal and how good their youngsters are? YOU HAVNT WON ANYTHING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW! and and wats gona hapen to u lot wen flamini, hleb and gilberto leave this summer? Wenger is gona bring more rubbish youngsters in from france haha not even one english player on most arsenal starting lineups this season its disgusting!
Posted by: meis | May 04, 2008 at 05:52 PM | Report this comment
once again man u splashing the cash, how much are they gonna spend this year on sore losers. gonna buy the league!
Posted by: ash cook | May 04, 2008 at 06:00 PM | Report this comment