Gill: Ins and Outs …
Telegraph: Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the green light to continue his summer spending spree and bring in a top line striker.
United manager Ferguson has already shelled out more than £50 million to bring in midfielders Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson.
United manager Ferguson has already shelled out more than £50 million to bring in midfielders Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson.
But Old Trafford chief executive David Gill has made it clear there are more funds available if he can find the right man to boost his side’s firepower.
Ferguson has already been linked with moves for a host of big-name forwards including Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, Bolton’s Nicolas Anelka and Atletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres.
With a question mark hanging over the long-term fitness of Louis Saha and veteran Ole Gunnar Solksjaer facing another knee operation, the manager knows he needs more support for Wayne Rooney.
Gill said: “We’ve looked at it and if something comes along in another area, which is a striker, we’ll see what happens.
“We’re not desperate but if any top player came along and Alex and the team felt they would strengthen the side then we would move for them.
“If anything does happen it will be in the striking department.”
Ferguson is under no pressure to sell but is certain to sanction the sale of one or two members of last season’s title-winning squad.
The manager ran out of patience with Saha’s ongoing injury problems towards the end of last season and the French forward’s United days look to be numbered.
And defender Gabriel Heinze looks almost certain to leave after attracting the attention of Real Madrid.
Gill added: “There will always be changes because we do have a large squad and there should be some people leaving. Don’t forget we have some great players coming back who have been out on loan.
“We want competition for places and we are always looking to improve the squad.
“We won’t go resting on our laurels. We are looking to improve the quality and want to be stronger than we were last season. Alex is always looking to improve the squad.”
The United future of Guiseppe Rossi, meanwhile, is hanging in the balance with the player set for talks with Ferguson when he returns from Italy’s European Under-21 championship campaign in Holland, which starts on Monday against Serbia.
The striker had a very successful stint on loan at Parma last season and is desperate for regular first-team action.
And while Ferguson has made no secret of the fact he considers Rossi one of the best finishers at Old Trafford, he is unlikely to see the 20-year-old as one of his frontline forwards.
Rossi has been linked with a loan move to FC Porto and his agent Federico Pastorello said: “Giuseppe will go and play in Holland and we will then assess things when he returns.
“Obviously I have read such things in the newspapers, but we have not talked with Porto or any club.
“We are not thinking about that at the moment, Giuseppe did very well with Parma and he is now going to play for Italy. Things will be discussed at United in July.”
