Papers: Bidding for Benzema?

Sir Alex to bid for Benzema
Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to rebuild his shattered strike force with a £30million bid for French star Karim Benzema. The United boss returns from holiday this week and will try to patch up his depleted squad with his biggest summer transfer splurge ever. Benzema is United’s prime target and despite publicly resisting a transfer, Lyon are already making moves to replace their 21-year-old striker. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan have looked at Benzema but United, with the cash from the Ronaldo deal, head the queue and progress is expected this week.
Simon Bird, Daily Mirror

The Daily Telegraph features quotes from Benzema's agent who says his client wants to stay in France for another year to prepare for the World Cup.

Former French international Marcel Desailly has urged Sir Alex to pay 'as much as it takes' to sign Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich. "I would put Ribery in the top two wingers in the world. It's Cristiano Ronaldo and then straight away after it's Ribery," insisted Desailly.

Meanwhile, the Mirror reckon Carlos Tevez agreed to join Manchester City two weeks ago and will complete the £47.5 million transfer in the next few days. The paper also features quotes from United striker Fraizer Campbell who is stalling on his £6million move to Hull City. He refused to commit his future to the East coast club yesterday, despite the fee being agreed a fortnight ago.

Round up by Gemma Thompson

Iker Casillas

Ashley Young

Douglas Costa

Fernando Torres

Sergio Aguero

Samuel Eto'o

David Silva

Arjen Robben

Joao Moutinho

Antonio Valencia

Franck Ribery

Karim Benzema

Edwin van der Sar

Tomasz Kuszczak

Ben Foster

Owen Hargreaves

John O'Shea

Dimitar Berbatov

Jonny Evans

Rafael Da Silva and Fabio Da Silva

Rafael Da Silva

Rio Ferdinand

Nemanja Vidic

Ji-Sung Park and Sir Alex Ferguson

Anderson

Darren Fletcher

Darron Gibson

Federico Macheda

gary neville

Michael Carrick

Paul Scholes

Ryan Giggs

Wayne Rooney

Zoran Tosic

Sir Alex Ferguson and Nani

Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo

08/09 Review: Tevez

Despite the speculation which clouded his second and ultimately final season at United, Carlos Tevez still created, scored and sweated for the cause in 2008/09...

Start to finish: Tevez started fewer league games than Wayne Rooney or Dimitar Berbatov in 08/09, but there was no denying his contribution to a triumphant league campaign. He provided Boxing Day cheer with a late winner at Stoke, laid on Berbatov’s last-minute clincher at Bolton and then, just when the Reds needed him most, he inspired a sensational comeback against Spurs at Old Trafford in late April.

In position: Carlos was at his best for the Reds when tucked just in behind the main striker, although he also had the pace to play on the shoulder of the last man. Covering an awful lot of ground, his constant harassment of defenders often forced errors.

Season highlight: All those long-haul flights to South America for World Cup qualifiers paid off on Boxing Day when Tevez reacted quickest to poke home a winner at Stoke.

Beating the Potters may not seem significant on the face of it, but it was a major boost when you consider the Reds were trailing Liverpool by seven points at kick-off.

Vital contribution: With United 2-0 down to Tottenham, Sir Alex threw on the Argentine at half-time. The effect was instant and Tevez’s enthusiasm rubbed off on both his team-mates and the crowd. Within 12 minutes United had the ball in the net; within 34, the Reds were winning 5-2. The manager’s verdict: “Carlos won us the game.”

Any lows: After bagging four against Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup, Tevez found himself warming the bench in the Reds’ next fixture. Frustrating, perhaps, but Sir Alex’s squad rotation ensures everyone’s kept fresh. Indeed, in his next start - at home to Aalborg in the Champions League - it took Tevez just three minutes to find the net.

Any other business: He often celebrated in front of the north-west corner, where his family sat. “They've been very supportive, I like to share special moments with them."

08/09 Review: O'Shea

Not only did Sir Alex Ferguson's flexible friend form a crucial part of United’s great defensive wall in 2008/09, he also popped up with one or two important goals...

Start to finish: So often a cameo performer, O’Shea has revelled in his lead role this season. And while there wasn’t so much of Johnny marching down the wing, he was stopping wingers instead, the Waterford-born defender slotting seamlessly into the full-back positions. O’Shea certainly grasped any opportunities that came his way, but following the Reds’ record-breaking defensive run – in which O’Shea notched 13 appearances – he was putting together a watertight case for selection on his own merits.

In position: When Patrice Evra missed games through suspension and injury in the first half of the season, Red legend Gordon McQueen suggested he was hardly missed, such were O’Shea’s impressive displays. “He looks as if he’s been playing there all his days,” added Martin Buchan, and it was the same when he moved to the right.

Season highlight: O’Shea made his 200th league appearance in November, as the Reds beat the Blues 1-0 in the Manchester derby at Eastlands.

Vital contribution: Aston Villa’s attacking threat dwindled like a candle as the season progressed, but in November Martin O’Neill’s side were firing on all cylinders. O’Shea was one of only a few defenders to keep widemen Ashley Young and James Milner at bay, earning United a well-earned point.

Any lows: Injury sustained against Portsmouth stopped him surpassing his career-best tally of appearances for a term, and curtailed his role during the run-in.

Any other business: Few goals will give O’Shea a warmer feeling than his winner at Anfield in 2007, but his strike against Derby in the Carling Cup in January saw him become the 15th player to score for the Reds in all competitions. His belter against Arsenal at Old Trafford in May gave United the advantage in the Champions League semi-final, first leg, while no-one started more games (11) in Europe.

www.manutd.com

08/09 Review: Rafael

A virtual unknown, even in his home country of Brazil, prior to the 2008/09 season, rampaging right-back Rafael quickly served notice of a bright, bombarding future at Old Trafford...

Start to finish: After the Da Silva brothers’ transfer from Fluminese was cleared in August, Rafael was given his chance to impress in a pre-season friendly against Peterborough. The Brazilian youth international seized it with a breathtaking display, leading Sir Alex Ferguson to describe his performance as "a sensation".

In position: Rafael’s pace and attacking tendencies gave the Reds new options in defence. “In Brazil, the right-back is always attacking, but not here,” he told United Review in January. With Gary Neville nearer the end of his great career than the beginning, Rafael is looking to seize the right-back spot for keeps.

Season highlight: His Brazilian flair shone at the Emirates, where he scored United’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal - a spectacular volley from the edge of the area.

Vital contribution: “Good work”: The words of countryman Robinho after Rafael had marked him out of the local derby at Eastlands in November.

Any lows: After playing in every round of the Carling Cup, he missed out on the final due to an ankle injury picked up a fortnight before. He did get to Wembley, though - his first game after regaining fitness was the FA Cup semi-final...

Any other business: Rafael was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award in April.

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