Soccernet is reporting that both British and German media are speculating that ManU is interested in signing Oliver Kahn, the Bayern and German NT goalie. Kahn apparently gave an interview saying he was interested in leaving Bayern Munich this summer. Bayern has dismissed the notion (for what that's worth).
This doesn't really make any sense (the ManUtd destination). Why would they shell out big bucks for an aging player like Kahn when it seems that Howard is their man for the long run. It really goes against the whole youth movement that ManUtd has been making lately. I read a similar article somewhere and it mentioned Arsenal as a possible destination for Kahn. The quote from Kahn was something along the lines of "if one of the major clubs came calling".
This happens each summer for the last few years when it comes to Kahn. He's bored with Bayern, hates the fishbowl he's in when it comes to the German media, etc, etc. Yeah, like the English tabs would allow him a velvet hammer.
Agreed (e.g., last season it was the furor over his decision to dump his 8-month pregnant wife for some bartender floozy that led Kahn to reconsider his future in Munich), but quite frankly, that's not the interesting part of the story. The interesting part of the story is ManU's alleged interest, since that obviously has implications for a certain YA.
Big name player claims he wants to move to another country... so the obvious names are the big clubs like ManU. Doesn't really make sense for him to get to ManU but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. Also interesting considering Howard may have had a better season. While Howard definitely had his shaky moments, Kahn was uncharacteristically inconsistent this year... with a couple of definite howlers. That said, he's still an excellent keeper and one most teams in the world would like to have.
On Kahn's form for Bayern this past season, he would be, in all honesty, about #5 on the US depth chart. I rate Johnny Walker ahead of him right now. What remains to be seen is whether Kahn's average-at-best season was a slump, or the beginning of the inevitable, irreversible slide to retirement that happens to every player.
Kahn was the third leg of the Bermuda Triangle at Bayern this season... if it wasn't a mindless error on the part of the two center backs, then it was the third man, Kahn, whose blunder cost the teamt the game. He had a horrendous year at FCB. NO wonder he wants out. How about we give him to you for free?
Are you saying they will sign an aging, high priced, out of form keeper (since the final in 2002) just for the sake of signing a big name? Not to mention the mental and tabloid baggage this guy carries... If so, then Man U really is in the **********er...
Seriously though, what Man U needs to sign is at least one good, young central defender like Gabriel Heinze or Lucio. Let Chelsea and Real spend money on overpriced imports.
We'll have Heinze by the end of the day or early tomorrow, he passed his physical before jetting off for Argentina's game against Brazil. As for Kahn, it's too late for him with us. Howard is the No. 1 for the long term. We're being linked to Kahn because we were interested 2 years ago and we're a major club. We wouldn't have to make an approach at all to be linked to him by the German press....
Sure about that one? I checked news this morning and the report was that PSG was stalling to raise the price.
Hell, Alan Smith is a Red and I'm still not SURE about that one yet. LOL! But, yes, there could be an announcement to the stock exchange by the end of the day or tomorrow from what I understand.
I may be making things up again, but wasn't Ottmar Hitzfield linked with Man U as SAF's replacement last year? With Hitzfield leaving Bayern maybe Kahn thinks he'll go with him.???????????
Ahhh, the silly season is truly upon us. Goalkeeping wasn't United's problem this past season and Kahn wouldn't be the answer even if it had been. Timmay doesn't have anything to worry about, IMHO.
Roy Carrol for one thing. And the fact that Old Trafford is his office. I can't think of too many more pressure packed jobs than being Goal Keeper for Manchester United. Hell, even Fabien Barthez, a guy many considered the best in the world, cracked under.