Charlie Klein
It would figure that on the day that Sarah Palin resigns as Governor of Alaska that Sir Alex Ferguson would announce arguably one of his weirdest signings today in Manchester. Michael Owen today was presented at Carrington signing a two year contract with the reigning Premier League Champion Red Devils.
It has been an unpredictable transfer window for the boys in red as two of their star perfomers of the past few years have passed up the chance to play in the squad that has a chance to retain the EPL for the fourth year on the trot for greener pay packets on other teams. Cristiano Ronaldo completed his inevitable move to Real Madrid for 80 million sterling and Carlos Tevez appears on the brink of signing with arch-rival Manchester City.
Charged with replacing the reigning World Player of the Year and a fiery charismatic striker, Sir Alex has signed Luis Antonio Valencia of Wigan Athletic (16 million sterling) and Michael Owen of Newcastle United (free transfer). Ferguson also completed the signing of a Charlton Academy player Sean McGinty who is only 15 years of age. None of those names inspire anyone to label United the favourites to retain their crown in the upcoming season but then again what does United really need to change?
I wrote earlier this summer that United needed to go out and sign Phillip Lahm (Bayern Munich), Karim Benzema (now Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg), David Silva (Valencia), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), or Arjen Robben (Real Madrid). Reflecting upon all that has happened so far in the transfer window, with Benzema signing for Real and the other players appearing to remain with their clubs. To be honest United do not have to go out and blow through all of the Ronaldo money in one or two players. Surely many fans will want them to go out and drop 60 million on Sergio Aguero of Atletico or a sum of that nature for Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Inter. Signing players like that just isn't the United way, it's the Real way.
I would expect that Sir Alex has more up his sleeve than just Valencia and Owen for this offseason. Rumours abound that United are pursuing Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano of Sevilla to help fill the goal scoring void left by Ronaldo and Tevez. Personally I would be ecstatic if Sir Alex was able to sign Ashley Young of Aston Villa to start opposite Valencia. Young is an English player who is like his last name, young. Ashley has bags of pace and has a great eye for goal on free kicks.
Whatever ends up happening at Old Trafford this summer, it will surely surprise us all. Michael Owen, welcome to United. You are no longer a Scouse bastard.
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