Antonio Valencia is unlikely to be the most high-profile arrival at Manchester United this summer - but that will not spare him from the pressure of intense scrutiny.

Close examination comes with the territory when you are the first newcomer through Old Trafford's door in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's £80m departure for Real Madrid.

And the fact that the 23-year-old Ecuadorian patrols a similar footballing beat to the Portuguese superstar will only bring his contribution to post-Ronaldo life at United into sharper focus.

Valencia cannot, however, be regarded as the straight replacement or a Ronaldo-lite. Sir Alex Ferguson will use the huge cheque banked on Wednesday to sign a variety of players to plug the gaps left by Ronaldo's magnificent attacking versatility.

This will be an accurate measure of the influence Ronaldo exerted on United, but Ferguson will back his own judgement - and the verdict of those who have worked closely with Valencia - to support the belief that he has brought a burgeoning talent to Old Trafford.

Valencia has flourished at Wigan after then manager Paul Jewell spent what would ultimately prove to be a profitable day for chairman Dave Whelan in front of the television at the start of the 2006 World Cup.

Jewell watched the young Valencia torment Poland in a 2-0 win and was immediately prompted to set up a loan deal with Villarreal, recalling: "Valencia was the first name in the notebook. I was at home ­watching Poland play Ecuador on the first night and immediately wrote his name in the notebook.

"When I went over to Germany I watched him play against Costa Rica and England and was really impressed."

The Jewell scouting report was fulsome when he unveiled his new capture, saying: "Antonio is something new for Wigan. He has skill in abundance and combines it with electric pace and a high work-rate. I'm convinced he has the attributes to make a success of the Premiership."

And so it proved, leaving Steve Bruce delighted to confirm Jewell's verdict on Valencia when a £5m permanent deal was sealed in January 2008. He has no doubts about what Valencia brings, saying: "He has pace, trickery, he is as strong as an ox and has a great work ethic."

Bruce is a sound judge of footballing flesh, and he believes Valencia has the touch of box office as well as the raw materials to make him a formidable force in the game.

He says: "Valencia has got that thing which not many players have anymore - the ability to dribble. Someone who can run with the ball, take it up the pitch and beat a man is now becoming a dying breed - there aren't many around.

"We don't produce players who want to dribble, we seem to produce the archetypal steady English player. If a player does want to take his man on and run with the ball, people will want to pay to go and see him."

All fully noted by United on numerous occasions and Ferguson's willingness to part with £16m is testimony to Jewell's talent-spotting and Bruce's nurturing of the quiet Ecuadorian.

But there was nothing under-stated about his talent and the scouts were out in force at regular intervals last season, with United monitoring Valencia for 12 months before finally getting their man.

Real Madrid were serious rivals, an indication that Ferguson may have pulled off a coup. while Bayern Munich and Liverpool made inquiries. Spurs and Aston Villa were also suitors until it became clear he was destined for one of the Champions League elite.

Wigan chairman Whelan, ever the astute salesman, piled on the superlatives at the very thought of Valencia gracing Old Trafford, almost suggesting his club was about to do United the biggest favour since Howard Wilkinson's decision to allow Eric Cantona to head across the M62 from Leeds United.

Whelan said: "I think Antonio is the best wide right player anywhere and that includes Franck Ribery. If this lad goes to Man United he will be a sensation there.

"Within a few months and over the course of a season the United supporters would come to worship this lad. We see him week-in, week-out in games and in training and he's a world-class player.

"He doesn't play the same way as Ronaldo. There is no show or flash, but he's a world-class player and he'll take some replacing. No-one tackles him or takes the ball off him because they can't get near him.

"At the kind of money that's been talked about for Antonio he'd be an absolute steal. United appear to be getting £80m for Ronaldo and they would be paying out a fraction of that for Valencia, so it would be great business because this boy has got immense ability."

Valencia is a more orthodox winger than the attacking all-rounder Ronaldo became under Ferguson's tutelage, but his pace and trickery are right up Ferguson's street, given the United manager's well-known love of wingers.

The question marks remain about Valencia's end product, with his final delivery unpredictable and his goal return of three goals in 31 Premier League games this season unspectacular.

United will study those statistics, and there is no doubt there is an element of the punt about United paying so much for a talent that is, to some extent, unproven and placing it in an arena that has proved too much for bigger reputations and bigger names than Valencia.

Ferguson, it should be noted, has been here before. The same criticisms about a lack of end product were levelled at the teenage Ronaldo before his game was fashioned into the finished article by the Scot.

The Valencia package was on display in microcosm in the opening moments of United's victory at Wigan in May when a searing burst of pace left Nemanja Vidic embarrassed, only for a scuffed and wayward finish to spoil the good work.

United are certain to use Valencia in his familiar flank role, and Ferguson will make more expensive additions around him to compensate for the removal of Ronaldo from his plans, as well as returning Wayne Rooney to the more potent and profitable central role he prefers.

Ferguson will also be an expert guide at reducing the pressure on Valencia as every new face draws comparison with Ronaldo - occasionally unfavourably.

He is the master of moulding raw talent and while Valencia's career bears no serious comparison with Ronaldo, who is only six months older, Ferguson has plenty to work with.

Valencia may represent something of a gamble, and an expensive one at that, but Ferguson's belief in the young Ecuadorian is strong enough to make him take it without hesitation.

Ian Rush believes a move to Manchester United could be exactly what Michael Owen needs to rediscover his form and resurrect his England career.

The former Newcastle United striker parted company with the troubled Magpies after his contract expired at the end of June and Sir Alex Ferguson is poised to snap up the 29-year-old on a free transfer.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez already having left Old Trafford this summer and prime target Karim Benzema heading to Real Madrid, the Premier League champions have been scouring the transfer marker for striking options.

The approach to sign Owen has come as a shock to many after the England striker endured an injury-blighted spell at St James's Park, but former Liverpool marksman Rush insists it is a shrewd move from the Manchester United boss.

"Manchester United have missed out on signing Benzema and Ribery so they've looked at Michael Owen," the former Wales international told Sky Sports News.

Proven goalscorer

"He is a proven goalscorer so it is not a gamble. Alex Ferguson thinks he can get the best out of him even if it is just for a year or so. Michael wants to be playing in Europe at one of the top four clubs.

"He's not going to player every game; he is going to be a squad player. If you look at look at Henrik Larsson, Fergie bought him in and he was successful and I think Michael Owen can easily do the same."

Owen sits fourth on the all-time list of England goalscorers, just nine short of Bobby Charlton's record of 49, and Rush believes a switch to Old Trafford will help him force his way back into Fabio Capello's plans.

"He has still got aspirations of playing for England and I think if you are at a club like Manchester United you're playing with better players and you're going to get more chances.

"I think he is still good enough to play for England at the World Cup and at Manchester United, with the players they have got, there is a chance Michael can get back in the England scene."

Owen will get goals and open the England door again, says Merse

Paul Merson Posted 3rd July 2009

I think getting Michael Owen is a great bit of business for Manchester United.

For a start it's on a free but more importantly, there is no better finisher in the Premier League. And knowing how many chances United create - and they make a lorryload every week - he will score goals for fun at Old Trafford.

I know people go on about his injuries and what the doubters are saying, but I don't think his fitness problems will be as bad now. Why? Because he will not be under as much stress.

Yes, United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and he will be playing in front of 70,000 fans every other week and in the Champions League, but I genuinely think there would have been more pressure on him had he gone to say, Hull.

At Hull he would know he was only going to get one, maybe two, chances a game, which means he has to take them. If he didn't and they get beat, there was only going to be one player everyone was pointing at: Michael Owen.

At United he will get plenty of chances and he will score plenty of goals. How many times do you see them dominate teams for the whole game? Practically every week they have 70-80 per cent possession, but sometimes they just need someone to stick the ball in the net - and there are none better at that than Michael Owen.

Perfect

I actually can't believe Arsenal didn't come in for him because they are another side that dominates teams but never take enough of their chances. Liverpool are a different matter because they play on the counter-attack and like to let teams come on them, but I thought he'd be the perfect buy for Arsene Wenger.

They say you're good if you are a one-goal-in-two chances striker. Well I happen to think Owen is even better than that, possibly two in three. At United he'll get three chances every game and he will score goals - and as strange as it may sound, it might just be good news for England.

I know Fabio Capello is not exactly his biggest fan, but I can't think of four better English centre-forwards, I really can't. There is always a surprise in a World Cup year and although it seems an odd thing to say about one of our best goalscorers, I can see Michael sneaking in the back door for South Africa.

Put it this way; international defenders fear him. They always did and always will. When the German centre-halves or Brazilian centre-halves look at that England team-sheet and see Emile Heskey's name on it, they know they are going to be given a game. But no disrespect to Emile, they also know they can let him go and he probably won't punish them. Let Owen go once, and he'll get a goal.

Pace

I have played with him several times for England and he just seems to know where the ball is going. You can tell that by the amount of headed goals he gets, especially for Newcastle. He's nowhere near the biggest on the pitch, but he still gets there first, because instinctively he knows where to go.

People talk about him losing that crucial yard of pace and it might be true, but I don't think it will matter at United one bit. Yes, between the halfway line and the edge of the box it has affected his game, but he won't need that - it's in the penalty area where they want him.

You know United are going to pin teams back and you know the opposition are going to drop deep and pack men behind the ball, so out-and-out pace is not that important.

Michael is not interested in dropping deep and linking up and United will not want him to do that - they already have Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov to do that.

I just wonder though, if it means we are going to see Sir Alex Ferguson change his approach now Cristiano Ronaldo has gone. Yes, the 4-3-3 works well when you have got a winger banging in 25 goals a season, but they don't have that now so effectively you are asking the man up top, whoever he is, to come up with 40 goals.

Popular

I wouldn't be surprised to see Fergie switch to a 4-4-2, especially in the games Michael plays in. I don't think he will be a starter every week but I do think he will be the man they turn to in certain games and also someone they can bring off the bench when they're desperate for a goal.

I can see him fitting in at United in the same way as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did - and we all know how successful and popular he was at Old Trafford.

If you give him chances Michael Owen will score goals. He will score goals for fun for Manchester United - and I still think the same goes for England, too.

Former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez is confident he will not be viewed as a traitor by the Old Trafford faithful if he completes a transfer to the club's cross-city rivals.

The Argentina international turned down a permanent deal at United last month following a two-year loan deal and has since been linked with a lucrative move to wealthy Manchester City.

Chelsea are also reportedly tracking the 25-year-old's availability, but Eastlands is believed to be Tevez's likely destination this summer.

Tevez told The People: "If I play for Manchester City I don't think the United fans will feel I am a traitor.

"They have to remember that at least as far as I know I have been thrown out of the club and I have to study the best offers available."

Tevez's decision to turn down the offer of a five-year deal at United has been defended by his adviser Kia Joorabchian, and the player himself insists manager Sir Alex Ferguson left him with little choice but to move on.

"It has come about because I could not stand my sporting situation at Manchester United any longer," he continued.

"My first year was good in all senses. I played in the games and felt respected by the coach but in my second year some strange things happened that I still do not understand.

"After the game at Old Trafford where Liverpool beat us [4-1, in March], Ferguson ignored me almost as if I was to blame for the defeat when really Liverpool dominated us all over the pitch.

"After that the fans called for me to be in the team but he never took the advice on board because he always knows best.

"I gave everything for Manchester United and people know that. For that reason I don't deserve the way things have ended up."

Stuart Mathieson

July 07, 2009

SIR Alex Ferguson looks to have beaten off competiton from Arsenal and Inter Milan for French starlet Gabriel Obertan thanks to his friendship with Bordeaux boss and former Reds centre back Laurent Blanc.

The 20-year-old is expected to arrive from France and sign for United after a deal was agreed for an undisclosed fee.

Obertan is a 6ft 1 in wide player who can perform on either flank, central midfield and also up front. He is a product of France's famous Clairefontaine national youth football academy.

The French club's president Jean-Louis Triaud had indicated that there was a "strong likelihood" that the transfer was due to go ahead.

It is now understood the youngster is set to make the official switch this week.

Blanc allowed the player to go on loan last season to Lorient as Bordeaux were contesting the French Ligue 1 title and his playing time had been limited.

But the French World Cup winner, who played for the Reds between 2001 and 2003, is clearly convinced Obertan has a future at Old Trafford.

Obertan has played more than 50 league matches for Bordeaux since 2006 and has progressed through all levels of French international football to the Under-21 side and scored against England in March in a friendly.

Obertan's capture will further add to the list of wingers at United including £16m Antonio Valencia from Wigan and 22-year-old Zoran Tosic, bought in January from Partizan Belgrade.