January Sales Now On as Transfer Window Opens
By Chris O'Brien
January 1 2004
The first transfer window is now open meaning Premiership clubs are allowed to purchase and sell players again. Does Sir Alex Ferguson need to bolster the United squad over the next month?
| January Sales Now On as Transfer Window Opens |
| Most of us spent 12midnight on Thursday
celebrating the New Year with a glass of champagne or with what was left of
the beer in the raided fridge. However, many of the countries Premiership
bosses would have already been planning which players they want to snap up,
with the first ever transfer window in Britain officially re-opening on News
Years Day.
The window is only open until the end of January, but with a lack of money available for spending at the majority of the 20 Premiership clubs, the massive raid for buying and selling players during January that was predicted during pre-season probably won't happen. A striker is likely to be at the top of Sir Alex Ferguson's shopping list, with rumours of moves for Louis Saha, Henrik Larsson and Mark Viduka going strong in the national press. The unwanted news of Rio Ferdinand's lengthy ban following the player failing to turn up for a drugs test means that United may also go out for a defender to bolster the squad over the next month. The squad has looked strong in the opening half of the season, and our success in Europe and the fact we currently top the Premiership reflects this. The main worry against the majority of supporters it the lack of strength in depth the squad has, particularly in attacking areas. The general consensus amongst United followers is that the likes of Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kleberson are not quite ready to be Old Trafford regulars, despite some impressive displays from United's new signings so far. A new striker would be nice with Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Diego Forlan with only out-and-out players of that role in the first-team squad, but I personally hope that Sir Alex Ferguson does not panic buy. We currently have a very good squad, and despite some pre-season worries the team have looked good in Europe as well as domestically, and their is a decent chance they could go all the way this season. Players like Wes Brown and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are returning from injury, and both deserve a chance at re-establishing themselves back in the first team. Brown's career has been plagued with injuries, but with Ferdinand's ban looming large, the young defender has a ideal chance to prove he can hold down a regular place in the starting XI of the Premiership champions. The inexperience of Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo means their is a vacancy on the right of midfield too, and Solskjaer is more than capable of becoming United's first-choice winger on the right flank. As for the players leaving, only one first-team face looks likely to depart from Old Trafford over the next 31 days. Fabien Barthez has been frozen out of the first-team with Tim Howard and Roy Carroll both ahead of the erratic World Cup winner in the 'keeper pecking order, and third choice is no good for a player with Barthez's ability. The Frenchman has been training with Marseille in his native country over the past few weeks, and looks set to join the club on loan or on a permanent basis in the next couple of weeks. Happy New year to you all, and lets hope it's another successful year for Manchester United! |