Forget about Ronaldo: When are United going to make their big moves?

United fans are no doubt starting to get sick and tired of the Ronaldo saga, but it's likely to rumble on for a week or two longer. For those who are desperate for the player to stay comes the news that many have been waiting for, the Glazers, who rarely speak directly to the media have let it be known via 'close sources' that even if Ronaldo hands in a transfer request he is going nowhere. It is seemingly time to move on for all concerned.

So far, apart from talk of Ronaldo leaving, it's been a very quiet summer especially regarding incoming transfers; United managed to bungle the signing of Aaron Ramsey, which we may live to regret.

Moving swiftly on to other names in the frame regarding the search for new blood, one theory doing the rounds is that Fergie is waiting until after Euro 2008 finishes before making his move to sign another striker, which would lead us to assume that his targets are taking part in the summer tournament, in truth though, few players have shone in front of goal.

Klaus-Jan Huntelaar was on target for the Netherlands last night when scoring a simple goal in the two-nil win over Romania. Last week the young Dutch striker issued a fawning 'come and get me plea' to Real Madrid, which will not have gone unnoticed by Fergie.... On the merits of Huntelaar as a striker, it was interesting to hear the views of former Dutch international Frans Thijssen today, who said "he's slow, not that skilful but he always scores goals". It is only one man's opinion, but Thijssen's views on his fellow compatriot are interesting - is Huntelaar really good enough for United? The jury is out as far as I'm concerned as I haven't personally seen enough of the player in action to make a judgement call.

United fans are well aware of the Reds supposed interest in Karim Benzema, but the Lyon striker is going nowhere, his club president was recently quoted saying "£30m would buy his ear". That was prior to France getting their sorry backsides kicked out of Euro 2008 - like most of his French teammates Benzema's stock has fallen in short order. Still, I do not expect any move by United for Benzema.

The Reds could yet make a move for Berbatov or Roque Santa Cruz. Given the paucity of options and therefore by default the Spurs and Blackburn strikers stock could well be rising, with prices to match.

Barcelona have this week confirmed that Samuel Eto'o can leave, but like Ronaldinho he is viewed as something of a bad boy and damaged goods. The fact that Barca are willing to offload the pair with neither anywhere near their sell-by-date must be a cause for concern for any prospective new club. Both players come into the extremely unlikely category as far as United are concerned.

Regarding the future of Louis Saha, the French striker is being linked to Roma, though there has been talk that he'd like to stay, given his appalling injury record that would seem very unlikely.

So the search for the identity of our new striker goes on, we live in hope that Fergie makes a decisive move soon, I just hope that United are not waiting for the dust to settle on Ronaldo's future before showing their hand.

Wenger to deliver Fergie knockout-blow in transfer market again?

Maybe it's the lack of trophies over the last few seasons, maybe it's the continued threat of a player exodus at the Emirates Stadium, whatever the reason it seems Arsene Wenger decided that he needed to get busy early in the summer transfer window.

The Arsenal manager has already nipped in and delivered a blow to United's hopes of capturing Welsh starlet Aaron Ramsey. Coming on that back of that news it's now being reported that the Gunners' boss is targeting another player who has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford this, Roque Santa Cruz.

The Reds made something of a hash of it when announcing that Ramsey was all but signed up, hopefully, United won't make the same mistake again and they will surprise the Red Army with some quality additions to the squad.

As far as we know United haven't made their move for Cruz so far, which could mean that Fergie doesn't fancy the Paraguayan. Recent speculation suggests that the Reds will not make any moves until after Euro 2008 by which time we will know what is happening regarding the future of Ronaldo. It is to be hoped that United are not waiting to find out how much money could potentially be raised from the sale of Ronaldo - that scenario could prove to be a costly mistake.

United fans do not want to see the back of Ronaldo - a world-record fee wouldn't be enough to replace him, added to which prices for transfer targets would then rocket with selling clubs trying to cash-in knowing that the club had just received a windfall.

Fergie and Wenger set for summer cheque-book battle royal?

It isn't often that Arsene Wenger gives any hint about potential new signings, but prior to Euro 2008 kicking-off the Arsenal manager reeled off a host of names who he expects to do well in the tournament. Perhaps most notable of all was the mention of Lyon's brilliant young striker Karim Benzema who is said to be very much on Fergie's transfer radar.

There are few players who escape the attentions of the continent's leading clubs and there's no doubt that Karim Benzema's name figures highly on the most-wanted lists of a whole host of Europe's top teams, United and Arsenal among them.

However, the very fact that Wenger mentioned Karim Benzema will surely be enough to raise the prospect of a transfer battle between Fergie and Wenger.

Lyon are not considered a big club, they have proven that they are a selling club and for this reason any of their star names will always be considered fair game where speculation is concerned and it is why Wegner's admiring comments about Benzema will ignite talk of a summer move to Arsenal this summer.

Whether or not we can read any more into Wenger's talking so openly about a Karim Benzema is a mute point - does this apparent public declaration of admiration mark a change of policy at the North London club?

Is Wenger ready to trade cheque-book blows with Fergie this summer? The latter seems unlikely given Wenger's prudence in the past. Perhaps Wenger is starting to feel the pressure after three successive fruitless campaigns, added to which he could potentially lose more star names following on from Flamini's Arsenal exit.

Alexander Hleb's agent has spoken to Barcelona among others and Adebayor's name is being linked to Milan - though the latter is likely to stay put in North London for now.

If Wenger did go on to battle with Fergie over the signature of Karim Benzema, it would be a marked changed from the norm. The big problem for both Arsenal and United is that the player may not fancy joining either club.

All in all it looks set to be an interesting summer of transfer speculation for followers of the Champions and Arsenal.

United summer transfer update...

...so then yesterday it was being reported by the Manchester Evening News that today the Red's would complete the long awaited signing of Owen Hargreaves, 24 hours later and the deal isn't going through and reports now suggest that the deal will be completed next week, when the player returns from his holiday in Canada.

I have to say this news of the delay concerns me slightly as I, and am certain many other United fans, would have liked to have seen this particular transfer saga wrapped up, but now we shall have to wait and see if and when the deal does go through... There is always that slight fear that another club could come in and clinch a deal at the death, as was the case with Mikel, Essien and Robben, who of course were all snatched from United by Chelsea.

You wonder why exactly the Hargreaves deal has stalled for a week.. could it be something to do with the fee, or even personal terms? Whatever it is the fans will want this deal concluded ASAP.

Another player in the news is Gabriel Heinze, who we are told is so desperate to leave that he could invoke new FIFA transfer rules and buy-out his owen contract which would leave him free to choose his next club, the popular Argentine is being linked to clubs in Italy and Spain.

Regarding the search for new strikers, the Red Devils have once again been tentatively linked to Klaas Jan Huntelaar of Ajax, this lad is hot property and there's no way United will have it their own way if indeed Ajax agree to sell the player.

So the search for new strikers goes on and to that end United have been dealt a blow concerning their ambitions to sign Bulgarian hit-man Dimitar Berbatov because it is being reported that he will pen a new deal shortly, thus dashing hopes of him playing for United next season..

I for one believe that the Red's will sign two new strikers plus Owen Hargreaves. However, if things do not go well regarding striker targets, there must be a chance that Saha will be retained and then if that happens United may sign just one new striker and the England midfield star.

I will of course be keeping you up to date with all the latest news and transfer gossip over the next few weeks while the summer window is open for business.