Fergie To make British Record Bid For Villa?

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is making a British record £45million bid for Valencia striker David Villa.

Ferguson will take on Real Madrid for the signature of the Spanish star who will be sold by his cash-strapped club. Villa has been on the United manager’s radar for several years and now he has the money from the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real to fight them for Villa.

Ferguson has been given a £100m war chest – the whole £80m from the Ronaldo transfer plus £20m extra. Fergie’s priorities are a proven scorer like Villa and a right-wing replacement for the Portuguese star, Wigan’s Luis Antonio Valencia.

Villa will definitely be sold by his club, with Real boasting they should land him this week. But Ferguson has already started his moves to beat them to it. Chelsea tried for Villa last week but were told he was going to Madrid. But Fergie won’t be put off and he has the financial muscle to back it up.

The United chief thinks he can win the race for Villa if he can pitch the right case to him, backed up by cash. He is masterminding the move from his South of France holiday base.
- Alan Nixon, Daily Mirror -