2 numbers that will turn Man Utd into Arsenal

These are two numbers Manchester United will not recognise – 0 and 7.

They will certainly not recognize them in the context of what they reveal.

0 is the amount of money United have spent on midfielders since 2010.

Click to read Walcott returns for Arsenal

7 is the number of years ago United last went an entire season without winning a trophy.

Those numbers will raise the alarm bells across Old Trafford as Manchester City threaten to do to United what Chelsea and to some extent, United as well, have done to Arsenal.

Both, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger come from the school of “finding talent”.

Click to read Man Utd line up Dembele for Scholes

Both have won trophies with talent raised from the youth stables.

Both are anathema to buying readymade stars.

Arsenal were unable to cope with Chelsea’s buying power and United’s staying power.

Click to read Arsenal defeat key, says Mancini

The result – 7 seasons without a trophy.

United must now face their moment of truth or face the danger of an Arsenal-style trophy-less meltdown.

Sir Alex will want that 7 number to remain as the number of years ago United last went without a trophy, not 7 years since a trophy came to United.

The midfield buying spree should starts on cue as soon as the trophy travels from Old Trafford to the Etihad this evening.

Wesley Sneijder, Eden Hazard, Marouane Fellaini or perhaps even a crazy bid for Yaya Toure.

0 should be the number that defies the number of goals conceded by United. And nothing else.
 

Man United to steal Vertonghen from Arsenal

Sir Alex Ferguson is making a desperate move to prevent Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen from joining a rival Premier League club, according to the Mirror.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger remains hopeful of clinching a £7 million deal for the Belgian defender, while Tottenham are also making a frantic bid to secure his services.

Click to read Arsenal on pole for Vertonghen

Now, Manchester United boss Ferguson is also tracking the centre-half.

Emirates is the fancied destination of Vertonghen who is a close pal of Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Click to read Guardiola snubs Chelsea again

Wenger has been sending scouts to watch Vertonghen and is ready to complete a cut-price deal, as the player only has one year left on his contract.

But the late interest from United and Tottenham is a concern to Arsenal, who want to complement Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.

Vertonghen admits he has a tough decision to make.

Click to read Newcastle target Ajax starlet

He said: “I have to make a choice. There’s something going on with Tottenham, but there are more clubs interested in signing me.

“The most important thing for me is that I get regular playing time. Plus I need a stable environment.

“More and more clubs in England seem to realise that you can go a long way with ‘good football’.

"Arsenal started with it, and teams like Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester City are playing good football as well now.”

Spurs to rob Vertonghen from Arsenal

Tottenham are in pole position to lure Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen to White Hart Lane, according to the Mirror.

Arsene Wenger stepped up his pursuit of versatile Belgian defender who has just one year left on his contract.

But Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is set to beat off interest from Arsenal and Chelsea for the 25-year-old defender, according to Spurs star and former Ajax star Rafael van der Vaart.

Click to read Liverpool eye Barca starlet

Wenger had hoped Vertonghen will form part of a new-look defensive pool next season, with Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou available for transfers away from the Emirates this summer.

Redknapp this week admitted Vertonghen was a player he admired, though he denied having made an approach for the Belgian.

Vertonghen lifted the Dutch league title this week, but Ajax boss Frank de Boer said after the triumph that he expects Vertonghen to leave in the summer, with Barcelona the club he would most like to see him play for.

But van der Vaart, who came through the ranks at the Amsterdam side just a few years before Vertonghen, told the Sunday People: "I hope Jan comes to Tottenham.

"As far as I know the deal is close to being done."

And the 29-year-old midfielder revealed in The Sun that the club had sought van der Vaart's advice over Vertonghen, who can play as a centre-back, a left-back or in midfield.

"Spurs asked me about him. If he’s sensible, he will opt to join us," he added.

Vertonghen is heading to Arsenal

It could be a busy summer for Arsenal as manager Arsene Wenger hints at bringing in several new players before the start of next season.

After surving a traumatic start to the season following the departures of Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas last summer, Wenger wants to go on all-out offensive to rebuild the side.

Having already shown his intent by reportedly signing Cologne striker Lukas Podolski, Wenger has been linked with Lille's attacking midfielder Eden Hazard and Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen.

"At the moment we are so focused on finishing the season well, though, because what we have done over the past two months is exceptional," Wenger told the Metro.

That has not stopped him making initial overtures to several potential new recruits.

Hazard, also wanted by Manchester City, has emerged as one of the most sought after players in Europe after he helped Lille win the title last season.

Ajax veteran Vertonghen could be the answer to Arsenal's fragile defence. The Belgium international is also good friends with Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, with the pair playing together at Ajax and also for their country.

Ajax manager Frank de Boer virtually confirmed that Vertonghen’s move to Arsenal next season is already a done-deal.

“Yes we’ve already discussed it,” de Boer was reported as saying in aljazeera.com.

“When there’s a club that he’s already interested in - and it’s really got to be a good club - then he will leave. It’s 100 per cent sure.

“I think he’s ready to make a next step. For us, it’s a setback, of course, to miss that kind of quality player.”

Vertonghen, 24, has been described as an elegant and technical ball-playing central defender who can play in other positions.

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