Gossip: Swap Deal For Gudjohnsen …
Sun: ALEX FERGUSON wants Eidur Gudjohnsen to patch up Manchester United’s injury-ravaged strike force.
Boss Fergie has offered defender Gerard Pique back to Barcelona as a swap. United need cover as Louis Saha and Ole Solskjaer will miss the start of the season after undergoing knee operations.
And hitman Alan Smith could be on his way out with Spurs, Aston Villa and Everton in the hunt.
That would leave Wayne Rooney as the only established striker.
Icelander Gudjohnsen, 28, has failed to hold down a regular place at Barca after joining for £8.2million from Chelsea a year ago.
Nou Camp chiefs were furious when Pique, 20, walked free from the youth academy to sign for United three years ago — and would welcome him back.
The Spaniard said: “I can’t say where I’ll be playing next season.”
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M.E.N: EIDUR Gudjohnsen will be offered as bait to Manchester United by Barcelona as they seek to sign young defender Gerard Pique.
The former Chelsea star may fit the bill for the Reds next season as they look for a new striker, despite the fact that they have received assurances that Louis Saha will be fit for the start of the season on August 11.
Barca are tracking 20-year-old Pique, who was snatched from under their noses as a 17-year-old in the youth ranks at the Nou Camp three years ago.
The Spaniard has been on loan at Real Zaragoza all season, and his stay has been successful enough for the club to want to make the move permanent - and Barca have joined the hunt.
Zaragoza are ready to offer cash for Pique, who has made 10 first-team appearances for the Reds, and they will have ready money as they prepare to sell Gaby Milito to Juventus for £16m.
Barca will offer Gudjohnsen, but will expect cash on top for the 6ft 1n Icelander, who scored five goals in 25 league appearances and three in eight Champions League games last season.
Admirer
Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long-time admirer of Gudjohnsen, who began his English career with Bolton in 1998 but is only 29 years old, and he could be landed for £5m plus Pique.
The Reds are casting their net far and wide for a new striker this summer, with 23-year-old Italian starlet Fabio Quagliarella also coming in for some attention.
Ferguson’s brother and chief European scout Martin watched the Sampdoria star playing against Palermo towards the end of the season, but United face stiff competition as Juventus are also in for a player who has broken into the Italian national squad this season.
Known as a ruthless finisher, Quagliarella has three caps and he scored his first international goals earlier this month, netting both as Italy beat Lithuania 2-0. Those goals added to a season in which he has scored 13 times in 35 games for Sampdoria.
