FOOTBALL

FERGIE SETS HIS SIGHTS ON TRIO OF RISING STARS

Fergie has earmarked three rising stars

Sunday November 8,2009

By John Richardson

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson has earmarked three rising stars as possible January transfer window targets.

Ferguson witnessed two of them at close hand on Tuesday night, CSKA Moscow keeper Igor Akinfeev and right-sided midfielder Milos Krasic, who scored in the 3-3 Champions League draw between the sides.

Also on the Ferguson signings radar is emerging Danish international central defender Simon Kjaer, whose performances for Italian Serie A side Palermo are attracting the attention of top clubs.

Ferguson knows he will have to move quickly to land any of Them because both CSKA and Palermo are coming under
increasing pressure to sell. Russian international keeper Akinfeev is high up on the list of stoppers that Ferguson is chasing as he looks for a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar, 39.

They include German duo Manuel Neuer from Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler. CSKA’s tricky wideman Krasic is a Serbian international team-mate of United defender Nemanja Vidic and has a host of Europe’s top
clubs on his trail.

Neither 23-year-old Akinfeev, who became Russia’s youngest international at the age of 18 years and 20 days, or Krasic, 25, would come cheaply.

But Danish defender Kjaer, 20, has a £6million get-out clause in his contract – quite a reasonable fee for a player who is talked about in glowing terms in his native country. Again he has a number of admirers, with AC Milan expected to be United’s biggest rivals.

Ferguson is ready, however, to make his moves the moment the January transfer window opens. United face Chelsea today with Fergie believing the London club have the right man in former Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti – someone who won’t be intimidated by the memory of Jose Mourinho, winner of two Premier League titles. Avram Grant and World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari have perished trying to replace Mourinho, but Fergie

said: “I don’t think Carlos will be one bit worried about that.

“His own CV is impressive. He’s won two European Cups and Serie A. Ancelotti’s ability as a coach is unquestionable.”