Manchester United bid for Benzema
Manchester United are set to make a record breaking offer for Lyon’s French star Karim Benzema according to the People newspaper and may be set to offer as high as £30 million for the star.
United are said to be working on a deal to bring Benzema to Old Trafford, however the deal is likely to be delayed due to the upcoming Euro 2008 Championships in which Benzema is being tipped to star in.
Benzema has been rumoured to be top of Alex Ferguson’s wish-list for many months with the striker being strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford back in January.
Benzema, 20, is one of France’s hottest properties at the moment and recently won the prestiged French Ligue 1 Player of the Year award as well as becoming one of the highest paid players in France.
The French star’s preferred role may be up front but Benzema also appeared on both wings for Lyon and would easily fit in with Manchester United’s occasional 4-3-3 tactic. Benzema was said to impress Ferguson through his combination of power and skill.
Portsmouth keen on Shaun Wright Phillips
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he would be interested in Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips should the club let him leave this summer according to Sky Sports.
The former Manchester City star has found himself on the fringes of the club ever since joining from City in 2005 for £21 million.
The lack of first-team opportunities has cost Wright-Phillips his place in the England side and the winger was said to be understandably upset when told that he was not featuring in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League Final squad.
Wright-Phillips recently stated his intention to stay at Stamford Bridge however, many believe it is likely the winger will be persuaded to leave Chelsea in order to seek first-team opportunities elsewhere.
Wright-Phillips, 26, is the adopted son of former Crystal Palace and Arsenal star Ian Wright and brother of Southampton player Bradley Wright-Phillips. The winger is renowned for his pace and dribbling skills and would be a major coup for any Premiership side.
There is sure to be high demand for the winger, should he be ready to leave and Pompey boss Redknapp would relish the chance to bring Wright-Phillips to Fratton Park.
Redknapp told Sky Sports: ” I haven’t spoken to anyone at Chelsea. But I like Shaun, He’s a terrific talent.”
“I wouldn’t know how much Chelsea wanted for him, though, if they were going to sell.”
“Maybe they would want to wait until a new manager comes in. But equally they may not need a new manager to come in before they sell someone. I wouldn’t know how Chelsea run thier affairs.”
“The player may want to wait until a new manager comes in and have a look at things then. But maybe he would look at his situation there and think he wanted to leave.”
“Of course he’s the type of player I would love to have though. He’s an excellent player.”
Arsenal to land "New Zidane"
Arsenal have been linked with numerous midfielders so far this summer, and are reportedly set to land young French star Samir Nasri for £13.5 million.
The young Marseille midfielder seems set to replace Aliaksandr Hleb who is on his way out of the club after Inter Milan expressed interest earlier this season. Arsene Wenger is unlikely to be deterred by the £13.5 million buy out clause in the player’s contract, and it seems increasingly likely that Nasri will join an ever growing list of young French signings by Wenger. Wenger is well known for unearthing young talent, with notable former signings such as Patrick Vieira and Francesc Fabregas.
Talks have reportedly been held with Nasri’s representatives, and his agent Jean-Pierre Bernes has confirmed that a number of clubs have made an offer for the player. Nasri, 20, has caught the eye of many admirers in the past few years, and was notably named French Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year 2007.
Nasri did nothing to calm the speculation surrounding himself by stating, “It is very important [to score] because it is perhaps my last match at the Stade Velodrome” after scoring in Marseille’s 4-3 win over Strasbourg.
