Jun 11
The Karim of the Crop?
With Carlos Tevez’ future still hanging in the balance we’ve seen the names of a couple of big-name strikers bandied about who are being mooted as potential replacements for the Argentine.
Over the next month or so I’ll be providing you with regular transfer rumour updates as the merry-go-round that is the summer window in European football gets into full swing.
So without further ado for my first report of the summer I present to you a player that certainly knows how to find the back of the net. If the title and picture wasn’t already a giveaway, it is ofcourse Lyon and France hit man Karim Benzema.
He’s been labelled one of the hottest prospects in European football for a couple of years now and it’s not too difficult to see why. This season alone the Frenchman has mustered up 17 goals in 36 league outings for Lyon and he’s also bagged five goals in eight Champions League appearances too.
Although it was in the Champions League last season where we all witnessed a firsthand account of exactly what Benzema is all about. Not only did he prove a handful for messers Ferdinand and Vidic at the Stade Gerland, Benzema also scored a stunning goal and you couldn’t help but admire his undoubted talents right there and then. So what’s Fergie waiting for?
Well the first stumbling block for me would be Lyon’s reluctance to sell their prized asset unless an extortionate amount of money is put on the table. With Juninho Pernambucano’s impending departure, why would Lyon even contemplate allowing their other star man to leave? Surely that would prove crippling not only to their prospects for next season but also to the faith of their supporters who have already had to endure a frustrating season as it is.
At 21-years-old Benzema has a whole career at the highest level ahead of him. With 23 caps to his name already, he is clearly no stranger to the international scene and my only fear would be his ability to adapt from a decidedly weaker French league. Although while young Karim does appear to have all the hunger and maturity needed to succeed in England, will Ferguson really be willing to stump up the £30 odd million required to get his man? Lose both Ronaldo and Tevez and he may not have the luxury of choice.
In all fairness I just think it’s going to be one season too early for Benzema to leave Ligue 1. With the likes of ourselves and Bareclona clearly at the front of the queue for his signature, the bigwigs at Lyon will know that with a World Cup only just around the corner, the potential is there to squeeze out a few million more if all goes well for France in South Africa. Saying that if Lyon fail to qualify for the Champions League proper they would be hard pressed to convince their main man that Stade Gerland is the place the be. Without the safety net of Europe’s premier club competition, rebuffing decent bids for his services would become an almost impossible task.
With all things considered, would Benzema really be content at potentially having to sit on the bench at various stages this season especially with it being a World Cup year? Ferguson will undoubtedly put faith in Berbatov for another season at least and with Rooney and Ronaldo available as potential striking options too, Benzema surely wouldn’t be a nailed on starter with every conceivable game.
There’s no arguing the fact that Benzema would be a terrific signing at Old Trafford as he would add pace, fluidity and a potency that was considerably lacking during the current campaign. But while I can’t see this move happening during the current transfer window, Fergie may not want to drag his feet for too long as Barcelona will be waiting to pounce as they search for an apt replacement for the ageing Thierry Henry. My biggest fear is that Benzema rather perfectly fits the bill.
Transfer Likelihood: 4/10
Editor’s note: This is should be first in a series rounding up transfer rumours concerning United over the summer. If you however want to keep track of transfers of clubs over Europe you could head over to the transfer lists page here.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Benzema, Benzema and more Benzema. But it’s only talk.
- Benzema ‘Prefers’ Madrid but United better sporting brand than Madrid
- Transfer Talk: Lahm and Benzema | Evra’s Contract
- Ribery, Sanchez, Silva or Eto’o? Who will replace Ronaldo?!
- Rushing Rooney Would Be Foolish
Tags: Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours · Opinions/Columns
June 11th, 2009 at 8:57
I wonder how often does it happen that once a team does well for 2-3 years in europe, the players gets snapped.. Seems to be the case with us too.
May be fergie has to restart shaping up the team if we loose more than 2 players, ( apart from the 3 guys who could retire sooner than later). I think we may see the rebuilding next summer, this year it seems difficult especially with the financial situations.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:59
Great article, And yes the Juninho situations and the world cup year may be the problem if anyone is going to sign for us, I think if we can keep ronaldo then Benzema is a distant dream.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:46
http://www.manutd.com/
Manchester United have accepted a bid of £80million from Real Madrid for Ronaldo.
VERY STUPID. Benzema for £25m? Not now, he’ll cost £40m. Ribery? Bayern will want £70. Every club in the world now knows we have a fuckload of money, and we will get nothing for it. If you think United tax has been crazy before, you wait till you see what our transfers cost us this season.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:52
Well thats that then. £80million is not a bad price. The club have to be looking for a ready mad replacement as of now! Suggestions on a post card please.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:03
Goodbye Ronaldo. no sentimental stuff included
June 11th, 2009 at 10:05
@Dred:
Yeah…but this has effectively ruined our pre-season. No way we will get anyone decent without paying 2-3 times their actual worth. All the wrangling over transfer fees means the team probably wont be together when pre-season starts…so get ready for another slow start
June 11th, 2009 at 10:18
Well..well…well…Not the best timing for a new article eh Stephen/RR? Just when the biggest transfer news of the decade has just broken out!
I can’t BELIEVE we have accepted a bid so early into the off-season!!!! It’s almost like helping Madrid to make sure they rule Europe next year and not Barca! What about us? Whom do we have in mind? Fergie better have made suitable replacements ready else we’re in for a tough ride.
One thing is for sure – Fergie sure had enough of standing up for this spoilt kid. We’ve seen hints of that during this season, and now it has been officially confirmed that he again expressed his desire to move. I bet Fergie was like, okay, off you go! The sooner the better!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:21
£80m, thats a lot of money so fergurson should have no excuses when it comes to buying players this summer, i just hope it’s not going to be spent on tevez
bye ronaldooooooo
June 11th, 2009 at 10:23
£80M is a good deal and personally I’d rather he went early in the summer rather than later. Yes, it will inflate the prices we pay but at least Utd will have a chance to bring someone in to replace him (if that’s possible).
I think the hissy fit when he was subbed in the derby might just have been the moment that SAF decided to sell if the offer was right. Wonder if there’s any chance of a Real player in part exchange? Sneijder? Drenthe? That Kaka bloke?
June 11th, 2009 at 10:25
all i am wondering is who will take the #7 shirt
June 11th, 2009 at 10:29
@Vivek: I can understand your views but i do think that Fergie had to be planning for this to happen and i wouldnt be at all surprised if he already has someone(whoever he is)lined up to take his place.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:29
@ROOOOONEY:
Well lets hope the Ljaijac kid is worthy of that
June 11th, 2009 at 10:30
We should get new players first and then sell ronaldo to Real becouse all clubs know we have money. I think United never know how to deal in transfer market. Look at Wenger.. He always buy his players cheap (arshavin, nasri….)
But i hope we get Benzema and Valencia and i pray for David Silva. Maybe one CM. I like Raul Garcia – Atletico Madrid(watch Spain U21 in Sweden) He would be great for us. I know this is a lot of money for these players, but when we sell ronaldo we need at least 2 players to replace him.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:30
OR…i was just thinking – what if Fergie wasn’t 100% ready for selling him? What if he was forced into it by the guys above him, they themselves being forced into it by the price and the current economic situation? What do guys thinks – its possible aye?
June 11th, 2009 at 10:30
@Dred:
I am not shedding tears for the spoilt brat, just that we should have bought someone before selling him. Now every club in the world will have hyperinflated prices for anyone half decent wanting to move to us
June 11th, 2009 at 10:34
Also by selling ronaldo this does change the whole shape of our team, and for the better imo. I think we can finally see Rooney step up to the plate and be played in his fav and natural position behind the main striker.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:35
the day fergie is forced to do something at OT, i think he would quit being a manager
June 11th, 2009 at 10:38
@Dred: do not be shocked if it is antonio valencia, because i won’t, a shock maybe we are leaving it for Adem Ljajic
June 11th, 2009 at 10:40
@Vivek: But hasent that always been the way we get fuked over in the transfer market anyway. Im just hoping Fergie already has a deal done for a replacement before the news broke this morning.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:46
@ROOOOONEY: Who cares?
June 11th, 2009 at 10:57
Let the bastard go….now we need benzema no doubt only thing is that clubs will expect too much but fuck it benzema and valencia and a creative mid. We made money on cambell so we should have enough. PLEASE DONT BUY TEVEZ FERGUSON!!!!!!
June 11th, 2009 at 11:00
Well, it was crystal clear it was a matter of when than if.
I strongly doubt Ljajic or however you spell it is the replacement. I’m expecting Ribery as the lined up replacement, but I have a shaky feeling we might let him slip.
I think we will let slip of the 09/10 season to Chelsea (not Liverpool), and we might have to see a season or two of serious rebuilding, before we get back to the top. Just like how it took us 4 years after we loss Beckham and had the worst revamp of Kleberson, Djemba, Howard, Miller and Bellion, it can happen again here. We need a direct replacement for Ronaldo, not a potential superstar…or else, we can say goodbye to both European and English dominance.
I suppose it’s not all doom and gloom : our defence is still the best, despite the final. But hinging on that for the entire of next season would be disastrous.