Not that United need any more help!!
UNITED OFFERED £7M KLUIVERT
May 4 2003
By Simon Mullock
MANCHESTER United have opened talks with Barcelona about signing Patrick Kluivert to form a Dutch dream-team with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
United watched the 26-year-old score the winner when Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1 last weekend.
They have started negotiations with the Spanish giants after being told Barca will do business at a cut-price £7million. Nou Camp officials also told the Old Trafford club that they would welcome a double Dutch swoop, with former Arsenal winger Mark Overmars available for £5m.
But Kluivert, who equalled Dennis Bergkamp's 37-goal record for Holland in the 1-1 draw with Portugal last Wednesday, is Sir Alex Ferguson's No.1 priority - even though the Dutch striker has turned United down twice.
This time, though, Fergie is able to offer Kluivert (right) the chance to link up with international strike-partner Van Nistelrooy. United's 43-goal man has constantly described Kluivert as his ideal foil.
And Kluivert, aware of United's renewed interest, has said he would welcome a move to the Premiership.
There have been suggestions in Spain that Barca will ask him to take a pay cut in the summer, but the striker has rejected the idea, saying: "If I stay I won't be earning less - and I would like to go to England one day."
The United manager will wait until the future of Paris St Germain's Brazilian Ronaldinho is decided before deciding on whether to move for Overmars too.
Ronaldinho is quitting the French club in the summer. And while England's World Cup nemesis would prefer a switch to Italy, United are willing to meet PSG's £20m asking price.
Van Nistelrooy, meanwhile, will be rewarded with a new contract by United in the summer that will almost almost treble his wages to £80,000 a week.
UNITED OFFERED £7M KLUIVERT
May 4 2003
By Simon Mullock
MANCHESTER United have opened talks with Barcelona about signing Patrick Kluivert to form a Dutch dream-team with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
United watched the 26-year-old score the winner when Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1 last weekend.
They have started negotiations with the Spanish giants after being told Barca will do business at a cut-price £7million. Nou Camp officials also told the Old Trafford club that they would welcome a double Dutch swoop, with former Arsenal winger Mark Overmars available for £5m.
But Kluivert, who equalled Dennis Bergkamp's 37-goal record for Holland in the 1-1 draw with Portugal last Wednesday, is Sir Alex Ferguson's No.1 priority - even though the Dutch striker has turned United down twice.
This time, though, Fergie is able to offer Kluivert (right) the chance to link up with international strike-partner Van Nistelrooy. United's 43-goal man has constantly described Kluivert as his ideal foil.
And Kluivert, aware of United's renewed interest, has said he would welcome a move to the Premiership.
There have been suggestions in Spain that Barca will ask him to take a pay cut in the summer, but the striker has rejected the idea, saying: "If I stay I won't be earning less - and I would like to go to England one day."
The United manager will wait until the future of Paris St Germain's Brazilian Ronaldinho is decided before deciding on whether to move for Overmars too.
Ronaldinho is quitting the French club in the summer. And while England's World Cup nemesis would prefer a switch to Italy, United are willing to meet PSG's £20m asking price.
Van Nistelrooy, meanwhile, will be rewarded with a new contract by United in the summer that will almost almost treble his wages to £80,000 a week.