MANUNITED.NETLANE.COM : TODAYS NEWS
Date: Sat Apr 25 09:17:34 GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

Keane's long wait

Saturday, April 25, 1998

Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane is ready to accept another
three-month wait before returning from injury.

Keane, out of action since snapping his cruciate ligament at Leeds in
September, may be given the all-clear to return this season by the two
surgeons who performed the operation on his right knee. He said: 'I am
confident but no over-confident that the specialist will allow me to play
again.

'I am not building my hopes up but I would be disappointed if I was told to
hold back for another couple of months. I feel ready but if they say I
should leave playing until pre-season, I'll understand.'

Your editor Barry
This Issue:
1. Soccernet's latest on Stam, others
2. Teamtalk
3. Fergie Eyes Ortega (Mirror)
4. Football365: More Sheri Transfer Talk

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++


Glory Glory Man United!


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Date:         Thu, 23 Apr 1998 20:57:13 -0500
Reply-To: Mike Keeley 
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
              
From: Mike Keeley 
Subject:      Soccernet's latest on Stam, others
To: MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU

Angry Stam tells PSV to accept United's £10m

Friday, April 24, 1998

Ken Lawrence on the star caught up in a Dutch auction

Jaap Stam will withdraw anhis offer to waive his rights to a 15 per cent cut
of any transfer fee agreed between PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United
unless the Dutch club accept the £10 million offer already tabled by
chairman Martin Edwards.

The defender has also consulted solicitors as he prepares to try to force
his way out of PSV through the Dutch courts. It is understood that if a deal
is not reached by the weekend he is prepared to appeal to his country's
football association to set up a tribunal settlement.

Stam was at first ready to forego the £1.5m which is guaranteed him through
his contract as a gesture to break the impasse between the clubs. PSV told
United they wanted £15m for the player they bought for £1m.

United, having already offered £9m, proposed a compromise figure of a
further £1m. Stam, in a hurry to settle in at his new club before the World
Cup Finals - his wife is also pregnant - believed that kissing goodbye to
his own personal stake would solve the matter.

After talks with the club a week ago it appeared that PSV were at one stage
prepared to take £750,000 back from the 25-year-old player. But Stam has now
discovered that his current employers continue to insist they want the full
asking price and he is now ready to withdraw cooperation and go to law.

Stam's offer will stand for the next 48 hours, otherwise he is threatening
to begin court proceedings which, under Dutch law, would allow him to claim
his release because he would be bettering himself financially.

He earns around £400,000-a-year, but in the Premiership would receive
£1m-a-year. Yet PSV, who will next season be coached by Bobby Robson,
believe they cannot allow themselves to be compromised because they fear a
mass exit by other stars.

At least five other players have intimated that they may be prepared to seek
moves and the Dutch club are trying to show the outside world that they will
not be bullied into accepting cut-price fees.

Stam, it is understood, is now growing increasingly impatient especially as
he believes PSV are using the continued interest of Liverpool to begin a
true Dutch auction. The player has repeatedly said, however, that he has no
intention of moving to Anfield despite the fact he knows he will lose money.

Liverpool, having already offered Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman
£40,000-a-week to sign new, long-term contracts, would pay the Dutchman an
equivalent salary. Stam would be prepared to sign a seven-year deal at Old
Trafford worth £7m.

Although he would earn more than £10m by moving to Anfield his agent, Ton
van Dalen said: 'There is only one place Jaap wants to go, and that is to
Manchester United.'

Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta has confirmed that he will not be lured
to United from Fiorentina. He said: 'I know United wanted me but the fans
love me at Fiorentina and I love them.' Batistuta is deterremined twants to
see out the final three years of his contract in Italy.

We are still hoping something can be settled by the weekend but, if not,
other options will have to be considered.'

United manager Alex Ferguson is ready to allow Ronny Johnson to have speedy
knee ligament surgery in the next few days so he will be fit for World Cup
duty with Norway. Johnson feared that Ferguson would demand his services for
the final three games of the season and force a delay.

________________________
Mike Keeley
National Futures Association
personal: mkeeley@wwa.com
business: mkeeley@nfa.futures.org

Glory Glory Man United!



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Date:         Fri, 24 Apr 1998 12:45:23 +0200
Reply-To: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
              
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
              
From: Jostein Holme 
Subject:   Teamtalk
To: MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
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Liverpool make last ditch Stam swoop 
Batistuta link 
Keane to play this season? 
Johnsen op confirmed 
 
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1998

Liverpool make last ditch Stam swoop «« 
Jaap Stam's club PSV Eindhoven have revealed that Liverpool have made a dramatic late entry into the transfer race.
It is suggested that Liverpool officials have contacted Eindhoven to tell them that whatever United offer, they will match.
Where as United already have strength in depth at the back, Liverpool's central defensive position has been a major reason for their lack of success in recent years.
Roy Evans would be dismayed to see the 25 year old Stam come to Old Trafford, thus further lengthening the defensive gulf between the two sides.
The great plus which remains in the Reds favour is that no matter how desperate Liverpool are to sign him, or no matter how much they are prepared to pay Eindhoven for him, the player desperately wants to come to Old Trafford. Stam's desire to join the Champions will result in United winning the day.
As Alex Ferguson puts it: "Everyone knows the lad wants to come to us. I am hopeful it will be sorted out in the next couple of days."
Indeed the player himself is becoming increasingly frustrated at Eindhoven's reluctance to conclude the deal. Stam wants to join United as soon as possible.
Stam has now threatened to withdraw an offer to waive his 15% cut of the transfer fee - if PSV do not accept United's £10 million offer.
Expect Liverpool to be disappointed and United to conclude the Stam deal early next week. 

 
Batistuta link «« 
It has been suggested that United's interest in Gabriel Batistuta is not over.
The Argentinian ace was linked to Old Trafford in a £10 million move last summer, however the deal fell through.
Batistuta now says: "I would still really like to play in England one day."
"I was close to leaving for United but political issues Fiorentina meant they couldn't allow it."
Despite the players comments, whether Batistuta is prepared to leave Serie A in the next season or so is doubtful.
He is treated as a God by the Fiorentina fans, and as regards personal terms, United would have to smash their wage structure to secure him.

 
Keane to play this season? «« 
Roy Keane's recovery from injury is going so well that the sorely missed Irishman may well take part in competitive action again this season.
Keano is well on the road to recovery from a cruciate knee injury - he will not be risked in any high level game, but United's management team are hopeful that he can be fit enough to get a run out for the A-team.

 
Johnsen op confirmed «« 
As we told you in yesterday's update Ronnie Johnsen's United season looks set to be over.
The club have today confirmed that Johnsen will go for an operation to repair damaged cartilage. Johnsen will be out for between 2-4 weeks, thus missing the rest of the domestic season.
Johnsen will have recovered in time for the World Cup finals in France.
Alex Ferguson confirms: "I want Ronny to play in the World Cup. My priority is to do the player a favour, and that's what is best for him."
Glory Glory Man United!



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Date:         Sat, 25 Apr 1998 07:50:52 +0800
Reply-To: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
              
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From: Red Devil Marcus 
Subject:     Fergie Eyes Ortega (Mirror)

ORTEGA IS FERGIE TARGET

MANCHESTER UNITED are chasing the new Maradona - Argentine World Cup
play-maker Ariel Ortega.

Boss Alex Ferguson sent No 2 Brian Kidd to watch the Valencia star score a
wonder goal against the Republic of Ireland in midweek.

Ferguson has been on Ortega's trail since hearing that he is unhappy in
Spain because of a bust-up with Valencia's coach.

United spy Martin Ferguson, the manager's brother, has also been to see
Ortega play in the Spanish League.

Ortega will move in the summer for around £6 million but United may step in
before the World Cup finals to tie up a deal.

The gifted player, who flits between midfield and attack, is destined to be
one of Daniel Passarella's key men in the competition in France and his
value could soar. But United are determined to bring in a flair player.

It would add an extra dimension to their side for next season as part of a
£20m revolution.

Chief executive Martin Edwards made an inquiry about Alessandro del Piero
last week, but Juventus quoted him £25m.

The Old Trafford club, even with all its wealth, will not pay those sums.


However Ortega comes well within their budget and in their sights.

Ortega is still young and enthusiastic. He joined Valencia from River Plate
in Argentina a year ago for £8m, but his much heralded arrival turned sour.

He had a fall-out with coach Claudio Rainieri and has been in and out of the
side - convincing Ortega that he needs a change of clubs.

Marcus.

Glory Glory Man United!



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Date:         Sat, 25 Apr 1998 01:37:20 -0500
Reply-To: Mike Keeley 
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
              
From: Mike Keeley 
Subject:      Football365: More Sheri Transfer Talk
To: MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU

Flop Teddy Set For Hammers In United’s Berkovic Swoop

Exclusive By Harry Pratt
Manchester United's Teddy Sheringham and West Ham's Eyal Berkovic may be in
line for a summer swap.

Lifetime Red Devils fan Berkovic is desperate for a move to United and is
prepared to risk the bad feeling from Upton Park fans which still surrounds
the last man to make a similar move, Paul Ince, who was attacked by a
Hammers supporter at Wembley on Wednesday.

An exchange deal involving Berkovic and England striker Sheringham would
soften the blow and is becoming a distinct possibility. Sheringham is
showing increasing signs of unrest at Old Trafford after a disappointing
first season and now manager Alex Ferguson is ready to cut his losses on the
31-year-old ex-Tottenham man who cost £3.5 million last July.

Known to favour a move back to the capital, but with Spurs and Arsenal out
of the running, Sheringham is aware that West Ham is the only destination
where he would have any chance of fulfilling his ambition to land some
domestic silverware before his career ends.

At the time, he described his transfer to United as a “dream”, presuming it
would result in a sackful of winners' medals. But after starting well in his
task of trying to replace Eric Cantona, the goals suddenly dried up and have
recently led to him being pilloried by fans and axed from Ferguson's
starting line-up.

In contrast Berkovic, 24, has been an outstanding success at Upton Park
during the last nine months, barely missing a game while inspiring Harry
Redknapp's squad to the brink of European qualification with his ability to
create havoc in and around the danger area.

Although West Ham manager Redknapp rejected a £5million bid for him from an
unnamed Italian outfit before Christmas and continues to insist he will not
to sell the brilliant playmaker, Berkovic has always stated the club must
win things if he is to remain there.

Speaking exclusively to 365 yesterday, he reconfirmed that position. The
ex-Southampton star said: "It is very important for me that we qualify for
the UEFA Cup. I need to know I'm playing against the best with the best. But
I believe if we can win on Saturday against Southampton we have a great
chance of making Europe."

Until that is guaranteed, however, doubts will remain about Berkovic's
future. All season, the cynics have been tipping him to join Tottenham, the
Jewish soccer hotbed of the UK capital. But we can reveal that he is a
Manchester United fanatic and has been all his life.

He told me: "All my friends back home tell me I should go to Spurs - but I'm
not a big Spurs fan. I always supported Manchester United. They are easily
the biggest club in Israel with a massive base of fans."
_________________
Mike Keeley
mkeeley@wwa.com

Glory Glory Man United!




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