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Wesley Sneijder WILL become a Manchester United player this week... if he accepts a restructured pay-deal to move to the Premier League.
The Dutch midfielder's club, Inter Milan, have paved the way for a £30million-plus transfer by accepting, in principle, a formal offer United made at the weekend.
They are ready to grant Sneijder permission to speak to officials from Old Trafford, and the Mirror understands those talks will take place later this week. The only stumbling block to what would surely be world football's deal of the summer is the player's wage demands, given the tax-favourable status he enjoys while playing in Italy.Sneijder doesn't want to take a pay-cut on a salary that would earn him the equivalent of almost £190,000 a week in the Premier League - which is way outside United's pay structure.The English champions though, are prepared to talk about a sliding pay scale that will see a large basic wage topped up with generous bonuses as well as signing-on fees that will be spread over the length of the contract.
That would almost match his contract with Inter, and, given that United players can earn large sums through image rights - which are less effective at other European clubs it would appear a compromise could be reached.
Both clubs were cagey about the situation yesterday, with Inter officials confirming there had been a formal bid from England, and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson suggesting the player had to think about his club's offer.
Ferguson held talks with United chief executive David Gill about the prospect of an improved salary package for Sneijder that would not break the club's wage structure, and there was optimism a deal could be struck.
The player's agent is expected to fly into London before the weekend, and United are hoping to have the Holland international training with the squad in time for the start of the Premier League season a week on Saturday.
Inter had considered a part exchange deal, with Dimitar Berbatov moving the other way, but while they haven't ruled that out completely they have indicated they would prefer the cash up front, with an option to negotiate on striker Berbatov separately.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfe ... 80034.html
Manchester United hope to complete the £35million transfer of Wesley Sneijder after agreeing terms of around £190,000 a week with the Inter Milan midfielder.
Sneijder was forced to compromise on his initial wage demands of £250,000-a-week, but an agreement has been struck and a deal is close to completion.The Glazer family, who own United, have sanctioned the fee for the 27-year-old Holland star as a replacement for Paul Scholes, who retired at the end of last season.
Chief executive David Gill met his Inter counterparts in Zurich yesterday at a meeting of the European Club Association.
It is understood Gill made clear United's willingness to pay £35m, with an official bid expected to be lodged before the weekend. Although Inter are reluctant to sell, they accept they cannot turn down such a lucrative bid. Gill hopes to have the deal wrapped up before he flies to the US tomorrow.
Speaking in the US on Wednesday night, boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he knew nothing of the deal.
He told ESPN: 'I keep reading about this. There’s absolutely nothing at all to that.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -deal.html
Edwin van der Sar has revealed plans for his testimonial on Wednesday night in Holland, with FOUR matches to take place over the course of the day and a dream team featuring Manchester United stars.
The matches will kick off at 4:45pm, with Ajax Under 13s taking on Manchester United Under 13s, followed by legends match between the European Cup winning Ajax side of 1995 and the Holland squad that participated in the World Cup in 1998.
But for United fans, the main event is at 6:15pm, when Ajax takes on van der Sar’s dream team, which will include Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Louis Saha, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.
Van der Sar is particularly excited about being joined by his old teammates and friends on the day, with the keeper ready to say thank you to both United and Ajax for his successful footballing career.
"Hopefully it'll be a great night," van der Sar told the Manchester United official website.
"It's a chance for fans to see some top players and some of the current up-and-coming stars for Ajax.
"It's 12 years since I left Ajax, so I'm really looking forward to going back and seeing old friends. I'm grateful for their support with the event. This is the perfect way to say goodbye.
"And I'm delighted the manager, Rene and the players are coming over for the game. I'd like to thank fans and staff at United for six great years. Hopefully it won't be too long before I see you again."
Alessandro Del Piero and Rafael van der Vaart are also still to be confirmed to feature in the dream team squad, along with Dennis Bergkamp, in a day that will celebrate van der Sar’s career in football spanning over 20 years.
Dream Team squad: Van der Sar; van Bronckhorst, Neville, Ooijer, Ferdinand, Vidic, Cocu; Carrick, Giggs, van der Vaart (TBC), Zenden, Kuyt; Bergkamp, Del Piero (TBC), Rooney, Saha.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure feels they look in good shape ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Manchester United.
Toure — scorer of winning goals in last season’s FA Cup semi-final and final — insisted last night that City are viewing the game as a chance to put down a marker for the season.
He said: "The most important thing is not that I score another goal at Wembley, it is that the team proves to our fans and everyone else that Man City are coming. We have to show United we are here and we want to win this cup for the fans.
"United is very important, very strong and it will be very tough on Sunday."
JoKeR1980 wrote:Wtf it was televised?
Ferguson joked that notoriously publicity-shy Scholes would not enjoy being in the spotlight.
He added: "He might not turn up - if an interview is involved he won't, he will be quite happy with his slippers on!
"He will endure it - if he has to do an interview or something with the fans at the end of the game he will get through it somehow, but he will not be looking forward to it."
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