Manchester United Linked with Ridiculous Javier Hernandez/Kaka Swap

Once in awhile you read something in a British tabloid that just makes you want to laugh.

This week the Daily Star, hardly the bastion for reliable journalism, has put its faith in a report that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to offload young striker Javier Hernandez to Real Madrid in exchange for one of their star players, preferably Kaka.

Quoting the story directly, the Star believes that "with the Mexican's days at Old Trafford seemingly numbered, reports in Spain have linked Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho with a move for the striker."

Touting a potential swap deal, it is claimed that "Fergie's dream target would be midfielder Kaka, after he aborted a bid for the Brazilian in the summer."

Now, I'm usually one to take transfer rumours with a grain of salt, even when, as in this case, the specific source in Spain for the story isn't even given.

But the ridiculous assumptions throughout the report are just mind-boggling.

Javier Hernandez's days at Old Trafford are seemingly numbered? Really?

Is this the same Javier Hernandez who Sir Alex tipped for "a top season" in the summer (via ESPN).

The same Javier Hernandez who started United's last Champions League game in place of the likes of Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa?

And since when is Kaka a "dream target" for the United boss?

One could have made the case for that being so in 2009, but the 30-year-old, who's on a £200,000-a-week contract, hasn't exactly been at the top of Fergie's transfer priorities list in the past few years.

Kaka may have played a blinder at Ajax midweek, but is Kagawa not then Sir Alex's No. 1 choice to fill the trequartista role in the years to come?

The same Star report also makes the bold claim that United are tempted to "wreck Liverpool's hopes of tying up a permanent deal for on-loan star Nuri Sahin."

With Sir Alex apparently having shown absolutely no desire to join the race to sign Sahin on loan in August, why, after maybe two good performances for 'Pool, is he suddenly keen on the Turkish midfielder?

Naturally, the salacious story is the Star's "most read" on their website, unsurprising considering the universal popularity of the players involved.

And with four months until the January transfer window closes, the writer has a four-month "grace period" until the report is proven wrong, which it will undoubtedly be.

Perhaps said writer expects United and Real Madrid fans to have forgotten about the story by then.

After all, why should Sir Alex dignify such rubbish with an immediate rebuttal?

What do you think of the Chicharito/Kaka swap rumour?

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