Chelsea ups bid for Seba

[bigtoga]

Juan final bid: Chelsea go to £16m to nick Argie
Chelsea have upped their bid to £16m for Juan Sebastian Veron as the Argentine star's agent prepares to jet to London to complete the move. A Stamford Bridge source confirmed to Starsport last night that negotiations will begin with Veron's adviser Fernando Hidalgo by tomorrow. But the Manchester United player is unlikely to cut short the Reds' tour of America and will return with the rest of the party early next week. Veron still insists he has no plans to leave United, and from Los Angeles he said: "I feel happy at United. If the club plans to transfer me, that is something else. But I have said 'no' to offers from clubs in Spain and Italy in recent weeks because I am comfortable here. As long as Sir Alex Ferguson wants me, I want to stay."
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star

From today's news on ManUtd.com - http://tinyurl.com/iet0

[johno]

I hope Chelsea give Veron what he wants in wages surely he must be considering it because he is unlikely to play very much outside of European competition... I want see more of the new blood we have brought in and I certainly want to see what more new blood can come it with the cash received from this transfer if it goes through... just cross your fingers that Ruud stays healthy and that SAF lands a right winger and maybe a centerback and say repeat EPL title and a really good shot at Europe...

[bigtoga]

Originally posted by mtkillamanjohno
...just cross your fingers that Ruud stays healthy... No kidding...

[USsupport]

question is: who's going to cry if Veron does leave?
I won't - but what about you guys?

[blackadder]

Does leave us rather shorthanded on the creative midfield. Plus, who takes the dead ball kicks?

[Doctor Stamen]

Phil Neville ??? :D.

[USsupport]

the England captain?

:)

[Doctor Stamen]

Fabian Barthez should do it.

[Giggs11]

In all seriousness is anyone else worried about the depth of our midfield in veron leaves? That leaves us with giggs, keane, scholes, butt, bellion, djemba djemba, phil neville, fortune, and richardson

Not exactly the midfield depth to take us through Europe. Granted we may yet get kleberson (although I have never seen him play) and joaquin, which would be awesome, but I don't really see bellion and richardson adding much this season and although veron hasn't lived up to his billing, he has much more class than fortune and phil neville. Solskjaer has played awesome on the wing but I prefer him up top where he can use his lethal foot. I guess I am just rambling, but joaquin has stated before he wants to stay at Betis (may be contract negotiating talk) but if that transfer falls through and veron leaves we will be a little thin in midfield.

[bigtoga]

Originally posted by Giggs11
...That leaves us with giggs, keane, scholes, butt, bellion, djemba djemba, phil neville, fortune, and richardson... While we aren't as perilously close to danger in the midfield as we are at forward (lose Ruud, lose title), there is too big of a drop-off in terms of talent between the top 4 and the rest.

I'm with you on Kleberson - maybe, maybe not - I havne't gotten enough chance to see him play either so its impossible to speculate. I hope for Joaquin but would prefer a bigger star to replace the two monsters we have leaving (Becks and Seba)

[johno]

As I said before... as long as Ruud stays healthy we will be fine... if we get Joaquin look for Ruud and Ole up front together... Scholesy in the hole Giggs out left and either Kleberson, Keane or DjDj to play Def. Mid... Kleb can play anywhere in the middle, DjDj is very athletic so he is versatile... I think all we really lack is a right wing... Eto'o would be nice too... or Shevvy

[Giggs11]

Okay lets say we get kleberson, does keane move back to partner rio in the middle of defense?

[prk166]

Keane on the backline? He'll stay in the mid. Let Silvestre and O'Shea hook up with Rio.

[sch2383]

The Guardian today said the Arse are going to tell Vieara (sp?) to sign a new contract or he will be put on the block so they get something for him. IF that happens, do you think SAF will add him to our midfield?

[Motterman]

Originally posted by sch2383
The Guardian today said the Arse are going to tell Vieara (sp?) to sign a new contract or he will be put on the block so they get something for him. IF that happens, do you think SAF will add him to our midfield?

And the golden coffers opened up...

[bigtoga]

Originally posted by sch2383
The Guardian today said the Arse are going to tell Vieara (sp?) to sign a new contract or he will be put on the block so they get something for him. IF that happens, do you think SAF will add him to our midfield? God, I wish!

Looks like someone else might be interested too...

http://tinyurl.com/ijaf

[sch2383]

Originally posted by Motterman
And the golden coffers opened up...

If he is on the market, we might as well spend the money. If we are as rich as we claim, we might as well put it to good use

[Lancashire Lad]

SAF said Veron is going nowhere. This story is also on Ceefax.


http://www.football365.com/All_News/Breaking_News/story_75516.shtml

[webster]

I don't get the rush to dump him. While he may not be worth the money, he's still a top-notch player. United isn't blessed with that many playmakers.

[gildarkevin]

I've generally been down on Veron based on his performances over the last two years. However, I'm definitely seeing why he's valuable in CL, especially with Beckham gone.

I'm really hoping that the injuries he had late in the 2001-2002 season, combined with the inability to take a break last summer were the reason for his poor performance and that with some rest and a more active role in creating the attack, he'll live up to his potential.

It's going to be interesting to see how he's used, though. If no more transfers occur, then he's not going to be the starting holding midfielder and he won't bump Scholes out of the attacking midfield spot. So maybe he's going to play on the wing. Or, now that the buck toothed Brazilian is learning Catalan, maybe Scholes will be back up front with RVN and Veron, Keane, Ole, and Giggs will be the first choice midfield.

Earlier this summer, when it appeared we'd get Ronaldinho, I was all for Veron leaving. Now I'd like to see him get a real shot to play both in the EPL and CL. What is United going to do with the money obtained from his sale anyway? It's getting pretty late in the preseason for a real blockbuster transfer at this point.