Martin Edwards on Ferdinan

b cridland

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Rio Ferdinand's future at Leeds looks increasingly shortlived, with Manchester United his most likely destination.
The Old Trafford side have been strongly linked with the England defender after his impressive displays at the World Cup.

Whether Leeds are prepared to sell him is another matter

Man Utd chairman Martin Edwards
Man Utd chairman Martin Edwards told BBC Radio Five Live it was "no secret that Ferdinand was a great player who would certainly improve our squad".

But he refused to reveal whether any talks between the two clubs had already taken place.

"Whether Leeds are prepared to sell him is another matter," he added.

For his part, Leeds boss David O'Leary says it would need a bid of over £30m to prise his star stopper away from Elland Road.

What can we do... keep an unhappy player - and an unhappy £30m-rated player at that?

David O'Leary
Although O'Leary will fight to keep his captain, he says he will not stand in Ferdinand's way if he wants to go.

"I will talk to him about his future now he has returned from the World Cup and find out what he wants to do," O'Leary told the Sunday People.

"The bottom line is that if Rio tells me he thinks that Manchester United are a bigger club and that he wants to go on to another level, then what can you do?

"Keep an unhappy player - and an unhappy £30m-rated player at that?

I think he was the best centre-back of the tournament

Ronaldo
"They are a big club, we know that. One of the biggest. If, professionally, Rio wants to do that then you have got to respect a player's wishes."

Ferdinand's growing list of admirers also includes Brazil striker Ronaldo.

"He's not like any other centre-back," the Brazilian striker said after their win over England.

"He was in control against me and is also good with the ball at his feet.

"I think he was the best centre-back of the tournament."

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12 Jun 02 | England
bbc.co.uk/sport
 
The fact that Martin Edwards has admitted an interest AND O'Leary has said he would be willing to let his man go to United shows a major progression in the Rio to United saga. However, with football's general economic problems I can't see United investing over £30 million unless they are going to get that money back.

If United want Rio badly enough then they will flog Veron or Van Nistelrooy for big big money. But then I don't feel Sir Alex is prepared to do that so Rio will stay at Leeds.
 
Once again the press have misquoted DOL. He actually sounds desperate to keep Rio. Don't know whether he will or not.

MANCHESTER UNITED could have had Rio Ferdinand for 18m but they didn't rate him. Now they will have to pay more than £30m to get him second time around, if I have anything to do with it.
Demanding that price won't be much of a consolation if he is to leave Leeds. I don't want him to go, I am against the transfer.

I am a realist, though. However, if we must sell him to balance the books it will be criminal if we sold him for 30m - because he is worth much more than that.

Ultimately, the decision rests with the Leeds PLC. They will ask my advice and I'll tell them: 'No, we should not be selling a player like Ferdinand - and not to Manchester United.'

For a start, should that deal take place, we are handing them the Premiership title. They will be champions, end of story.

I have watched Rio with a great deal of pride and satisfaction throughout these championships.

I have known for some time what the world seems to be agreeing now - that Rio Ferdinand is a sensational footballer.

I'll tell you something else, he won't be at his peak until he reaches the age of 28. He's got another five years of improving to do before then.

I will talk to him about his future now he has returned from the World Cup.

I called him earlier in the competition, but not about all this. It would not have been fair to him, or to Sven. It's not for me to be distracting a player when he's on England World Cup duty.

I'll start by finding out what he wants to do. Because let's be honest, he will know all about Manchester United.

He has been away for five weeks with the likes of David Beckham and Nicky Butt, and there are people close to Rio who are also close to Sir Alex Ferguson.

It has been written that Sir Alex is 'confident' of signing my player ... and I know how these things work. Don't get me wrong, I am sure Manchester United will do it all properly, and through all the right channels. And the bottom line is that if Rio tells me he thinks that Manchester United are a bigger club and that he wants to go on to another level, then what can you do? Keep an unhappy player - and an unhappy 30m-rated player at that?

They are a big club, we know that. One of the biggest. If, professionally, Rio wants to do that then you have got to respect a player's wishes.

I hope we don't end up with a messy situation, with a player being unhappy and criticising us for lacking ambition and that sort of carry on.

Rio has been a revelation at Leeds and I want that to continue, of course I do. He's terrific, and that's why we paid 18m for him.

It was a bit of a gamble, mind.

We started off offering 12m to West Ham, who turned us down. Then we went to 14m, but they still would not let him go.

Our chairman spoke to them once again, then he came back and told me 'we can go on all season going up bit-by-bit, but if you want him now we can have him ... for 18m!'

In the chairman's attitude the message was 'if it works, then great - but if he flops, you'll be getting the sack'. No, he didn't have a smile on his face at the time, either.

I was certain of Rio's talent, though. We ended up cornering the West Ham people in our boardroom after a Premiership game and did the deal there and then. They weren't leaving Elland Road until we had Rio Ferdinand. We nailed them, for their asking price of 18m - it was an obscene amount of money!

I had investigated him. People told me he was a good lad, sound and solid. Not tricky at all. Having worked with him, I have found him to be a lovely, lovely boy.

On the pitch, I knew he could improve, knew he could play in a back four. In fact, I was sure that would make him a better player. Playing him in between two other central defenders allowed him too much freedom.

To help him become a better defender, he had to be made to defend.

I might not know much, but I know about central defenders and I could see what I could help him become - if I could get my hands on him.

Nobody else wanted to pay up, though. I was certain Manchester United would come in, that was a real danger. I thought 'let's get it done and dusted at 18m, West Ham's asking price. No haggling, no messing - completed before Fergie gets involved'.

And I was sure he would get involved. He needed a central defender and here was the lad who could become the best of them all and he was on the market and available for transfer.

They might claim now they didn't need him, that they had other central defenders. Rubbish - they didn't rate him. Nor did Arsenal.

I could see he was special. Yes, he could be casual and yes, he would take chances. But he was some talent and I was confident I could cut that out, get it out of him by working day-in, day-out.

We played at Derby at the end of last season and he had an excellent game. Then, 20 minutes before the end, he dropped his shoulder tried to stride out with the ball and it was taken off him.

Straight away, he looked over to find me on the bench. I was looking at him, our eyes met and he threw up a hand. He knows the right ways, it's in him now, it's there.

He wasn't booked in the Premiership last season, he has a great attitude. He's learning, he wants to be the best. Some people said to me he might be a bit too cocky, but I found that I loved him from the start.

He might do the odd daft thing, but he has a great chance to become a great. He has a lovely girlfriend, who doesn't want to hog the limelight, she's a good influence.

I hope we benefit from his talent for years to come. I can't be certain, though.

In fact, it's not easy planning for the new season, because I'm not sure who will be playing for us!

We have to sell some players and we'll see how that turns out.

I would like to add, though, that I know I've spent money, but it's been spent on players with a re-sale value, not old has-beens who nobody else wants.

My transfer deficit is 60m but any time we want to cash in we can, because other clubs would love to have our players.

I've been backed by the board in the transfer market - and I am grateful for that - but we've got to decide where we want to go.

You can't expect to sell Rio Ferdinand and then run away with the League, or walk into the Champions League.
 
feck Edwards. If he had any real say in matters at OT we would never have had money to buy Forlan. In his power days the a**s was a miser.
Can you imagine that he clainms the purchase of Veron led to stam being sold? When it was clearly because Jaap and Fergie fell out! :rolleyes:
 
tot edwards would oni be interested in the money his lil' bit of shares is making? not for the gd of the team, i reckon ;)
 
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