Is Fergie ready to dump Alan Smith?
Is Fergie ready to dump Alan Smith?
The Sun newspaper reports today that United have backed away from contract renewal talks with the ex-Leeds striker.
“The England frontman, 26, wanted to extend his stay at Old Trafford with two years to run on his current agreement,” the newspaper claims. “His agent, Alex Black, approached United to start talks this summer. But now it seems United are ready to sell.”
Smith struggled after returning from injury and defied the manager’s request to go out on loan to the Championship last January. That seemed to signal the end of Smith’s United career after a £7 million switch from Leeds in 2004.
But with typical doggedness and determination, Smith returned and appeared to play his way back from a transfer, with an encouraging display in the Champions League demolition of Roma. With Fergie appreciative of the ex-Leeds man’s combative qualities, not to mention his versatility, it seemed that question marks about Smith’s Old Trafford future ha been removed.
The Sun’s scoop, if true, changes the outlook for the forward once again. United’s decision not to renew Smith’s contract, would spark a scramble for the player’s signature.
However, the timing of United’s move does seem strange. Veteran forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now recovering from surgery and fending off doubts about his ability to return. Louis Saha, who was allegedly involved in end-of-season training ground shouting matches with Ferguson, is another striker with an uncertain future, whilst on-loan Giuseppe Rossi is believed to be on the wanted-list of new Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri.
The worries over Smith, Saha and Solskjaer will only fuel current speculation that Sir Alex is in the market for new, high-priced hitman to lead the team’s title defence.
