Man Utd target £25m Wesley Sneijder - Exclusive
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Transfer news: Man United are tracking Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan for £25m, and Rafa Beneitez is after Liverpool's Javier Mascherano and Lucas - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is plotting a £25million raid for Inter Milan’s Dutch ace Wesley Sneijder.
Ferguson has told his money men that the midfield maestro is the player he wants for next season to bring more goals and imagination to his engine room.
Sneijder has been one of the stars of the finals, with his goals and clever passing him taking his country to the semi-final clash with Uruguay today.
Fergie has been on his trail for weeks and began behind-the-scenes moves for the player who helped Inter win the Italian title and cup plus the Champions League after being discarded by Real Madrid.
The United chief sees Sneijder as the injection of class that his side needs after missing out on the big prizes at home and abroad last season.
And, with Jose Mourinho leaving and Benitez after his own men, Ferguson hopes that he may have a chance of landing the star - although it will cost him a small fortune.
United will pay big for Sneijder as he is just 26 and has a re-sale value, one of the demands that the Glazer family put on large cash signings.
The Americans have made funds available and chairman David Gill is ‘on the case’ to land the Dutchman.
Ferguson knows that he may have to replace the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in the coming season and Sneijder’s acquisition would help overcome that major problem.
Sneijder could be tempted by the move to Old Trafford if the terms are right. It would take a bumper contract, but there is also scope for that within the United budget.
Ferguson is well aware that his squad needs an extra lift after falling short in the closing weeks.
Midfield was a disappointing area in some of the top matches and Sneijder has proved to be one of the best in the business.
Sneijder is waiting to see how Benitez’s regime pans out at Inter.
The former Liverpool boss is trying to recruit in midfield with Javier Maschernao and possibly Lucas Leiva in his sights.
If Sneijder does not like the direction that the club is going he could push harder for the United move - although the decision would have to be made in this window to let him qualify for the Champions League.