11-07-2009, 02:27 PM
Manchester United have targeted Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero and are plotting a player-plus-cash offer for the Argentine sensation.
United chief Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for more fire-power up front following the departures of Cristaino Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, despite the arrival of Michael Owen.
And South American ace Aguero, the 21-year-old son-in-law of Diego Maradona, is a possible option with Atletico ready to sell - if the price is right.
United intermediaries have approached Atletico to see if they would be interested in a deal worth £30million plus Portuguese winger Nani.
Another option that might make the Madrid outfit more interested, would see a payment of £18m plus Dimitar Berbatov, who had an underwhelming first season at Old Trafford after his arrival from Spurs.
But selling Berbatov would only decrease the striking options available to Fergie, who would then also have to go looking for a big man, with Real Madrid’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar seemingly more likely to join either Stuttgart or Marseilles.
So far, Atletico are still holding out for the full £52million valuation written into Aguero’s release clause following his £16m signing from Independiete three years ago.
Aguero’s personal terms might also be a problem, with the Argentine understood to want somewhere in the region of £200,000 per week, which would destroy the Old Trafford pay structure and make him the biggest earner by far.
United will not even consider such a salary but are aware that it would be an opening gambit by the player and his representatives, taking advantage of the instability caused by Real Madrid and Manchester City.
More pertinently, United are aware that despite claims to the contrary, Atletico are ready to do business and that it is a matter of price alone, which opens up the opportunity of landing their man.
United chief Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for more fire-power up front following the departures of Cristaino Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, despite the arrival of Michael Owen.
And South American ace Aguero, the 21-year-old son-in-law of Diego Maradona, is a possible option with Atletico ready to sell - if the price is right.
United intermediaries have approached Atletico to see if they would be interested in a deal worth £30million plus Portuguese winger Nani.
Another option that might make the Madrid outfit more interested, would see a payment of £18m plus Dimitar Berbatov, who had an underwhelming first season at Old Trafford after his arrival from Spurs.
But selling Berbatov would only decrease the striking options available to Fergie, who would then also have to go looking for a big man, with Real Madrid’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar seemingly more likely to join either Stuttgart or Marseilles.
So far, Atletico are still holding out for the full £52million valuation written into Aguero’s release clause following his £16m signing from Independiete three years ago.
Aguero’s personal terms might also be a problem, with the Argentine understood to want somewhere in the region of £200,000 per week, which would destroy the Old Trafford pay structure and make him the biggest earner by far.
United will not even consider such a salary but are aware that it would be an opening gambit by the player and his representatives, taking advantage of the instability caused by Real Madrid and Manchester City.
More pertinently, United are aware that despite claims to the contrary, Atletico are ready to do business and that it is a matter of price alone, which opens up the opportunity of landing their man.
