Transfer struggle?

[7even]

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he is struggling to find a replacement for Roy Keane at Manchester United.

Keane, who recently held his testimonial at United, left Old Trafford in January to join Celtic.

United have struggled to fill the gap left by the Irishman's departure with the likes of John O'Shea and Ryan Giggs being employed in central midfield role.

Ferguson has made a new midfielder his top priority and he has revealed he has been forced to look abroad for reinforcements as he feels no one in England can compare to Keane.

"It's not easy to replace Roy Keane, just as it wasn't when Bryan Robson came to the end of his career,"[/i] Ferguson told MUTV. "We looked for a new Bryan Robson and fortunately we were very lucky to get Roy Keane.

"That scenario is on us again. We've got to get a Roy Keane and we've got to complete that quest in terms of getting that type of player who can influence not just the dressing room but also on the field

"We have some ideas in mind in that respect, maybe not exactly a Roy Keane-type but players who would add to the midfield.

"One of the benefits of Roy was, even though he was from the Republic of Ireland, it was like he was British, so there was no problem in terms of his culture and the language. He was a Manchester lad really, we brought him here from Nottingham at a young age.

"In the present situation where we're looking for a Roy Keane there is no-one, absolutely no-one, of that type in the English game.
"There are some good players in the English game but not a Roy Keane-type.

"So when we look abroad we have to take into consideration that he's not going to be a Roy Keane in terms of his influence in the dressing room because of culture, language, things like that.

"It will be a different type of player but hopefully it will be somebody who has the qualities that we need."

Lyon's Mahamadou Diarra is thought to be Ferguson's top target after watching the midfielder in action on several occasions this season.

I don’t believe we should just rush straight in and buy anyone but let’s hope we don’t beat around the bush too long eh, we need to booster our midfield for the for coming season and with the likely departure of Ruud, we need a goal scorer too?

[onenedkelly]

I just feel from what Ive seen and heard that Diarra is gonna be another Eric (so bad they named him twice) Djemba Djemba.

The place needs filling and we don't have a plyer suitable to do it and although Smithy obviously ain't that man I must point out that against Chelsea and Tottenham this season at home Smithy won the midfield battles against Lampard and Davids hands down

[Rio's Back Pocket]

Reo Coker anyone?

[onenedkelly]

Wasn't convinced until the Cup Final mate, man marked Stevie G and did a great job on him only for Stevie G to score two cracking goals

The difference between class and World class??

[7even]

Don’t be fooled by him. This guy to me sprung up out of nowhere, one minute we hear nothing and the next, the press are saying future England captain. Please.

For Gerrard to score two goals he wasn’t exactly man marked and if he was, it wasn’t a very good job, especially the second goal. A wonder goal it might have been, but did you see how much room Gerrard had to shoot?

A good player he might be and at what, just turned 21 he might just be a big thing in a few years time (though he has to leave West Ham for that) but right now, I’m not convinced he’s good enough for us.

[Rio's Back Pocket]

Be alot cheaper then Diarra, and from what I hear he's an explosive character in the dressing room. So he comes with the cultural accessory Fergie is looking for.

Surely there's got to be better options out there then Diarra!?

Gattusso?

[onenedkelly]

Gattusso is good disruption to any apposing teams play

That is all I will say about him, his passing his standard at best his tackling is ok? Wouldn't say he has anything of real quality to add to our team to be honest.

He's looked average in a very good team where Pirlo does most the defensive duties in midfield and he's also alongside such greats as Seedorf and Kaka

Hell id look good in that midefield and Ive a leg 3ft shorter than the other #smoke#

[Deleted]

mascherano.
total midfielder to the one dimensional diarra.
this guy really has it all.
box to box.very intellligent reading of play.
if we have any chance of signing him we should do it , i really believe it would be a huge mistake to miss out.

[onenedkelly]

Not sure why were chasing Diarra before Maschenero

Im deffo with you on this all the way

[keano16]

It is times like these when I wish we had brought Gravesen in during the January transfer window. I know a lot of people don't rate Gravesen, but I've always been impressed with him. His style of play suits United plus he's already had Premiership experience.

The situation at Chelsea now they have Ballack is going to be of interest. There is no way in hell that they can keep every single one of them midfielders happy. It would be great if we could get Joe Cole. I wouldn't go in for Robben again, we gave him a good chance to say yes to us before he went to Chelsea. Duff is too injury prone and while we have Ronaldo, how many games would Wright-Phillips play? Probably just a little more than what he has played this season. Not a lot.

Yes, Joe Cole would be fantastic, but if we're going to buy a player from Chelsea, Gudjohnsen would be a more realistic acquisition.

[JoshReddevilz]

yh i would prefer gudjohnson, but diarra is only 24 and a good player

[schmeichel1]

rbp said:

Reo Coker anyone?

I feel that Benayoun is a better player than Reo-Coker at West Ham, i wouldn't mind us signing him instead

[Sky Sports 1]

deanser said:

mascherano.
total midfielder to the one dimensional diarra.
this guy really has it all.
box to box.very intellligent reading of play.
if we have any chance of signing him we should do it , i really believe it would be a huge mistake to miss out.

I've seen him play a few times myself and he really has it all, great strength included and wouldn't cost Diarra's extortionate price. I can only think Fergie isn't sure about him settling with the language etc. and making a keane type impact.

[donkeadrogba]

Javier Mascherano.

Failing that Michael Carrick and Scott Parker, I keep harping on at these two but I think they're excellent midfielders each with the possibility of becomming world class, Mourinho recognised that with Parker but just didn;t use him cos he felt he had better. These two can become world class and we should have them can't believe we missed out on Carrick when he went to spurs for like thruppence hapenny!

[luke chadwick]

keano16 said:

It is times like these when I wish we had brought Gravesen in during the January transfer window. I know a lot of people don't rate Gravesen, but I've always been impressed with him. His style of play suits United plus he's already had Premiership experience.

YES, GRAVESEN!!! I´m glad to see someone else mention him. I think he would be brilliant. I´ve been wishing for him to come over for since day one of Roy´s departure. When he first went over to Real he was often the best man on the pitch for them, and then this disastrous Brazilian Luxemburgo geezer comes over and prefers the gangly Uruguayan hooligan, Pablo Garcia over him, with predictably negative results. We could have gotten him.

He had an understandably off year, but a move to United would fill him with confidence again, and he´s proven himself in the Premiership. Much like Roy, he means business on the pitch and is not there to fuck about. Honestly, can´t think of a better replacement for Keane.