Gossip: United In For Anelka …
Mirror: NICOLAS ANELKA last night emerged as a shock target for Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson prepared to take his summer spending close to £60million.
After completing the triple capture of England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Portuguese sensation Nani and Brazilian wonderkid Anderson, United have made a move to sign £8m Bolton striker Anelka.
‘Le Sulk’ has led a nomadic career taking in seven clubs including Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City, before signing for Bolton last summer from Turkish side Fenerbahce.
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And now the brooding Frenchman’s career could be set for another twist after United made an enquiry to Bolton about the 28-year-old within the past few days.
Anelka wants to play Champions League football and Bolton are understood to want the £8m they paid for him to let him leave.
After a slow start at Bolton, Anelka scored 13 goals last season.
United yesterday confirmed the £18m signing of Hargreaves from Bayern Munich, following on from the £32m double capture of Nani and Anderson.
Fergie had set his sights on Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres, Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov and Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o, all of whom would have cost more than £20m.
But the £50m outlay on Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson has meant Fergie has had to revise his spending options for a striker, which is why Anelka - at under £10m - has entered the frame.
