Filed under: Manchester United, Premier League, Football
Wesley Sneijder has given the clearest indication he will be part of Manchester United's squad for the forthcoming season, confirming he has held talks with the Premier League champions over a move from Inter Milan.There is plenty to be done if a deal for the Netherlands midfielder is struck, with a fee between the two clubs being the most important part of the process.
But Sneijder appears to be edging closer to Old Trafford, with the 27-year-old also admitting he wants the move to happen.
"There have been unofficial talks, there have been contacts but then there are always contacts," Sneijder said in The Sun newspaper.
When he was asked if he would like a move to United, he added: "Yes, but United haven't made an official approach yet. The situation is I'm an Inter player and chances are I will still be come August 31. There is also a chance I could leave.
"That isn't really down to me but the club. Inter have been very clear - if a good offer comes in, they have to let me go."
The pursuit of Sneijder has been a long-running transfer saga since the conclusion of last season, along with Chelsea targeting Luka Modric and Arsenal pair Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri appearing ready to leave the Emirates Stadium.
With the season days away, none of those moves have materialised. It means Sneijder's move could mirror Dimitar Berbatov's in being a deal finalised close to the transfer deadline.
The rest of Sir Alex Ferguson's business - signing David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young - was done relatively early and has offered plenty of time to prepare of the season.
Tom Cleverley's form gives United a bit of time to negotiate a deal for Sneijder, with the hope of Paul Scholes being adequately replaced over the campaign.
With the signings Ferguson has made, former United midfielder Roy Keane believes his old team will comfortably defend their title.
"Even Sir Alex Ferguson said the other day the league's getting tougher. But I don't think so," he told The Sun newspaper.
"If United are really at it, which they will be, they'll win it comfortably. Even last year when United were slipping up, no team was strong enough to take advantage of it."
Keane has been impressed with Ferguson's signings, regardless of Sneijder's potential arrival.
He added: "United have bought well. People talk about losing experience and I appreciate that Van der Sar, Neville and Scholes have all retired.
"But they have good young players coming through - and Wayne Rooney can play better than he did last season.
"When you look at the players they have left behind, they have Vidic, Rio, Darren Fletcher - these are all international players. And Giggsy is still there, too."
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