United's High Stakes Summer

Does knowledge equal power for Sir Alex Ferguson?

The United manager has known for a year that star player Cristiano Ronaldo had an agreement to sign for Real Madrid before 30 June.

It is also probable that United decided some time ago that paying nearly £26 million plus wages for Carlos Tevez was an investment too far.

That means United have had ample time to put in place a post-Ronaldo, post-Tevez strategy. Sir Alex will soon have to reveal his new-thinking, aware that for the first time since the summer of 2006, his decisions command unusual attention.

Ferguson has been at his south of France bolt hole whilst the transfer exits of two of his celebrated strikers were played out on the back pages of the nation’s press.

Ronaldo’s move to Madrid came with  ‘ho hum’ ennui attached, whilst Tevez’ advisers sought vainly to command the media high ground in their bid to cast their client as United’s wronged man.

“This has been Carlos's decision,” said spokesman Kia Joorabchian in announcing Tevez’s departure.

“If it was, let's say, Wayne Rooney's contract finishing six months before, or Cristiano Ronaldo's contract finishing six months before, would they have offered a better deal to them at that time or would they have tried to secure their services a bit sooner?

"He has that little bit of a feeling that maybe he wasn't the most wanted person at United. Rightly or wrongly, that's how he feels."

Ruling out a switch to Liverpool may ensure that the Argentine retains his warm relationship with United fans but it shouldn’t exclude censure for some unhelpful media teases in the previous three months.

Convention has it that the club will pursue  Antonio Valencia and the Lyon prodigy Karim Benzema, as replacements for the departing duo.

Luring Wigan’s Valencia to Old Trafford seems a straightforward option now that United appear to be the player’s sole suitor.

Benzema, on the other hand, gives every impression of being unimpressed by United’s interest. Lyon—a club well used to wringing the last centime from wealthier outfits in transfer deals—have at last admitted that they could accept a “tsunami” of cash for their young French hotshot.

Media reports suggest that United are ready to offer £30 million for the striker but this has not been met with unbridled enthusiasm by the player’s agent, Karim Djaziri.

Benzema signalled last season that Madrid is his preferred destination when he leaves France and Djaziri now uses the media like a prom queen’s canteen to advertise his client’s reluctance to join United.

"Karim is on holiday at the moment and he is not thinking of moving,” said Djaziri. "He wants to stay in France for another year so that he can prepare for the World Cup and I think Ferguson knows this.

"Perhaps he wants to make an offer to Lyon. If that happens, then Karim will think about it. But as things stand, Karim wants to stay with Lyon for another year."

Prudent public relations is a wise strategy to be employed by a dedicated football agent but Djaziri’s sober public utterances may be as welcome as cold porridge at breakfast for the United manager.

This raises the possibility that Sir Alex may eventually have to look elsewhere in his quest for forward reinforcements.

The ‘revelation’ last week that United appear to have ruled out a bid for Ribèry on account of his age (he’s 26) suggest that United are focusing on young, unproven talent.

But will such players be brought to the club from Europe or Latin America, or are they already plying their trade in United’s junior ranks?

The late, goal-scoring introduction of ‘Kiko’ Macheda against Aston Villa is credited with helping United to see off Liverpool’s challenge and to claim a hatrick of titles. The player’s profile has risen sharply in the intervening period and he is now thought of as someone who could thrive in Ronaldo’s absence.

"The boy Macheda is developing at a great rate of speed,” Sir Alex said last April. “His performances for the reserves have been very good. He's a natural finisher.”

The manager was equally complimentary about his young striker Danny Welbeck, a player whom Sir Alex reckons will be part of Fabio Capello’s 2010 World Cup  squad.

“Danny’s a certainty to make it at the highest level,” Ferguson told the Sunday Times last May. “I’ve told Fabio Capello the boy will be in his World Cup squad next year. Wide left or right or through the middle, he has the intelligence, guts, athleticism and talent to do the job.

"He’s going to be a big lad. His height is about 6ft 1in now but the prediction is he’ll be 6'3". He’s yet to get the conformation in his thighs, so he is still gangly, but he’s brave enough to carry that. When he completes his growing, he’ll really be something.”

Sir Alex has shown courage in allowing two of his principal goalscorers to leave Old Trafford. Not only must he replace Ronaldo and Tevez’s creativity, industry and goals but Ferguson must also find talents to take over from the ageing Scholes and Giggs.

Both players have enjoyed exemplary careers at Old Trafford. Both are likely to be used sparingly next term as United place greater faith in youth.

There are also substantial injury worries too concerning Foster, Brown and Hargreaves, leaving the manager with a busy summer ahead.

This adds to the pressure on United’s manager as he faces the most competitive league season in his career with a restructured squad of reduced quality. Liverpool, boosted by new and better players, will hope to maintain their late season surge.

Chelsea, invigorated by new management, will be expected to mount a sustained challenge to United’s dominance, whilst Arsenal will look to Arshavin and their young guns to recover lost ground.

Whilst United can expect strong challenges from their three traditional rivals and perhaps Manchester City, Sir Alex will be aware that the No. 1 media sports story of the Autumn will be the manner in which United cope without Ronaldo and Tevez. Every stumble will lead to an inquest into Fergie’s tactics and selection policy.

United have done nothing to fuel the current transfer frenzy sparked by Ronaldo's record-breaking departure. Transfer negotiations with Wigan have been conducted with discretion. Otherwise, the media rather than the club have set the transfer agenda.

However, United will be accused of dithering if they fail to satisfy a restive fan base before the summer overseas tour begins. What supporters want to know and quickly is whether the manager will strive to maintain his team’s form and results by buying players who are ready on day one for the first team?

Alternatively, will Ferguson cope with the loss of his two star forwards by accelerating the development of two promising but untried youngsters and fast-track them into the first team?

It is a dilemma that recalls the summer of 1995. Then, Sir Alex let Ince, Kanchelskis and Hughes find new homes and put his faith in youth. He was rewarded handsomely with major silverware.

Dare United hope for as much now?