Sunday June 23 2002
OTHER STORIES
Which Old Stager Could Be Chelsea-Bound?
O'Leary Realistic Over Ferdinand's Future
Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards has admitted that Rio Ferdinand "would certainly improve our squad" amid speculation the club could smash the British transfer record to bring the England defender to Old Trafford.
Edwards refused to comment on reports that United are ready to launch a £30million bid for the Leeds United star, but admitted he was the calibre of player which manager Sir Alex Ferguson will target.
"He's a Leeds player and I think it's wrong to comment really on a player who's playing for another club," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme.
"There's no secret that Rio Ferdinand is a great player and would certainly improve our squad. Whether Leeds are prepared to sell Rio Ferdinand, that's another matter."
However, as speculation mounted that Ferdinand or Italy international Alessandro Nesta are the biggest names on Ferguson's summer shopping list, Edwards did not rule out a move which would exceed the £28.1million the club invested in Juan Sebastian Veron last year.
But perhaps significantly, he suggested that any such swoop may have to be funded, at least in part, by cashing in on members of the existing squad with Lazio keeping a close eye on Veron's situation.
"It also depends on what you're bringing in as well," he said. "If you want to keep spending money without recuperating, then that's a very dangerous situation to be in.
"We weigh up each situation as and when it arises, and if we think a player is going to improve us and we know the cost, we have to bear that in mind at the time and say 'Can we afford that?'
"Alternatively, we've got a big squad here and you sometimes say, well in order to bring a player in, maybe you have to let somebody go, and that obviously happened in the case of Jaap Stam last year.
"I can't say that £28million won't be breeched, but I think it would have to be an exceptional player to do that. We'll have to see."
Leeds boss David O'Leary had already admitted he would not stand in Rio Ferdinand's way if the England defender wants to join Manchester United.
O'Leary insisted he did not want to let his star centre-half go, but accepted it would be unwise to keep hold of an unhappy player.
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from football365.com
any comments????
OTHER STORIES
Which Old Stager Could Be Chelsea-Bound?
O'Leary Realistic Over Ferdinand's Future
Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards has admitted that Rio Ferdinand "would certainly improve our squad" amid speculation the club could smash the British transfer record to bring the England defender to Old Trafford.
Edwards refused to comment on reports that United are ready to launch a £30million bid for the Leeds United star, but admitted he was the calibre of player which manager Sir Alex Ferguson will target.
"He's a Leeds player and I think it's wrong to comment really on a player who's playing for another club," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme.
"There's no secret that Rio Ferdinand is a great player and would certainly improve our squad. Whether Leeds are prepared to sell Rio Ferdinand, that's another matter."
However, as speculation mounted that Ferdinand or Italy international Alessandro Nesta are the biggest names on Ferguson's summer shopping list, Edwards did not rule out a move which would exceed the £28.1million the club invested in Juan Sebastian Veron last year.
But perhaps significantly, he suggested that any such swoop may have to be funded, at least in part, by cashing in on members of the existing squad with Lazio keeping a close eye on Veron's situation.
"It also depends on what you're bringing in as well," he said. "If you want to keep spending money without recuperating, then that's a very dangerous situation to be in.
"We weigh up each situation as and when it arises, and if we think a player is going to improve us and we know the cost, we have to bear that in mind at the time and say 'Can we afford that?'
"Alternatively, we've got a big squad here and you sometimes say, well in order to bring a player in, maybe you have to let somebody go, and that obviously happened in the case of Jaap Stam last year.
"I can't say that £28million won't be breeched, but I think it would have to be an exceptional player to do that. We'll have to see."
Leeds boss David O'Leary had already admitted he would not stand in Rio Ferdinand's way if the England defender wants to join Manchester United.
O'Leary insisted he did not want to let his star centre-half go, but accepted it would be unwise to keep hold of an unhappy player.
------------------------------------------------
from football365.com
any comments????