Another Surprise:
Anelka next on United's list as summer spending hits overdrive
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Dominic Fifield
Friday June 1, 2007
The Guardian
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Manchester United's pursuit of a striker has prompted them to lodge an inquiry with Bolton Wanderers about the availability of the France striker Nicolas Anelka, with the Premiership champions having already taken their potential summer spending beyond the £50m mark with the purchase yesterday of Owen Hargreaves.
The England international followed the Portugal winger Nani and the Brazilian midfielder Anderson to Old Trafford, allowing Sir Alex Ferguson to turn his attention to supplementing his striking ranks. His initial targets had included Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and Dimitar Berbatov of Tottenham Hotspur, though they have effectively been priced out of his budget following this week's spending.
Another highly-rated striker, the Ajax forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored 23 goals in 34 league appearances in Holland last term, has indicated he would prefer to remain in the Eredivisie for a further season, leaving Ferguson searching for alternatives. Anelka, 28, has emerged as a surprise target.
The France international moved to the Reebok from Fenerbahce last summer for a club record £8m. He played a significant part in securing Wanderers' Uefa Cup qualification, scoring 11 league goals, but he is keen to compete again in the Champions League and has been unsettled by Sam Allardyce's departure.
Indeed, Allardyce had admitted that he would listen to offers for Anelka this summer had he stayed at the Reebok. Sammy Lee, Allardyce's successor, is keen to retain the striker, however. Hargreaves' arrival, confirmed some 24 hours after the two signings were secured in Portugal, ended a year-long pursuit of the England midfielder with the 25-year-old expected to sign a five-year contract at the end of next month when he returns from a family holiday in his native Canada. The fee is understood to be £17m, with Hargreaves to provide support for Michael Carrick, allowing Ferguson to use Paul Scholes more sparingly next season.