Sunday, February 17, 2008

United on trail of red hot striker....

Manchester United take on Lyon at the Stade Gerland on Wednesday when the Champions League resumes for a game that could prove to be the most difficult so far this season for the Red Devils.

Over the last few seasons Lyon have been many neutrals 'dark-horse' tip to lift Europe's premier club competition, only for them to fail in the latter stages as United themselves have done so many times over recent seasons.

Last Saturday Fergie went on a scouting mission to check out Lyon, they won 4-1 and the United manager let it slip that he's interested in 20-year-old striker Karim Benzema, who scored his 25th goal of the season. Benzema is hot property and is coveted by just about every top club in Europe. The striker has hinted that he would like to join AC Milan, Fergie hasn't gone overboard when confirming his interest, but the United boss has admitted that Benzema "is a possibility".

In time honoured fashion Benzema bas been dubbed "the new Zidane", "the new Platini" and "the new Henry", and so it goes.

In 2006 Benzema, who is of Algerian descent, was given the option of playing for Algeria, but instead he opted for France and he is now a full international who is expected to play and big part in the French Euro 2008 finals campaign.

One of the key elements that United always look in any potential transfer is the desire of the player concerned to join the Reds, a case in point is Van Nistelrooy. Once Fergie knew that the Dutch striker really wanted to come to Old Trafford even a serious knee injury setback didn't prevent that deal from eventually going through. However, at the time of the Van Nistelrooy transfer the Red Devils were the only serious bidders, it is likely to be a different situation where Benzema is concerned.

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