[Prongs]

Stam is United's Costa courter

Ex-United defender Jaap Stam has been scouting for the club in Brazil where he watched teenage Brazilian prodigy Douglas Costa.
Stam, who Sir Alex Ferguson admits he sold too soon, retired from football last summer and is now reportedly working for United again in a scouting role.

He was in Porto Alegre this week to watch youth and senior matches featuring the city's two clubs Internacional and Gremio - the former club of now United midfielder Anderson.

The champions are thought to be monitoring Gremio prodigy Douglas Costa, who has also caught the eye of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

After recently turning 18, the skillful Under 19 international signed a new deal which increases his buy-out clause to £21million and protects the club from losing a player in much the same way United acquired Rafael, Fabio and Rodrigo Possebon from the two big clubs in Rio.

Douglas Costa has already trained with the senior Brazil squad and has begun to impress for Gremio, scoring from 20 yards in Saturday's 2-1 win against Botafogo.

Described as 'the new jewel of Brazilian football', the modest teenager said: "I don't have think about this. I only have that to play football.

"I face this with calmness. I am not a star."

Manchester United: Stam is United's Costa courter - ClubCall.com

Well , am shocked to see Stam working for us . Apparently he apologized to Fergie and Fergie gave him the job it seems .

21 M pounds for this kid ? Seriously ? When we are about to tie up contract for tevez ?

CARLOS TEVEZ FUTURE IN DOUBT | United target 18-year-old wonderkid Douglas Costa | Sport|Football | News Of The World

[mg91]

Yeah 21 million is certainly excessive. However, I think the days of European clubs buying young players cheap from South America are coming to a close, as South American clubs continue to increase the sell on clause in their young talent's contracts.

However I think the media is making an absolute meal out of it by claiming that the signing of this kid will be at the exodus of Tevez. Ferguson has made it abundantly clear that he wants to keep Tevez, and Tevez has stated many times that he wants to stay.

[Fletch]

the media really need to take A) journalism classes and B) math classes, to both increase their journalism skills and realise that 2 + 2 doesn not equal 5 as they seem to think when ever linking clubs to players.

[Maz!]

Papers: Double Reds swoop?

Fergie's after the new Ronaldinho
Manchester United have made an £8million bid for Brazilian whizkid Douglas Costa, 18. Boss Alex Ferguson is desperate to snap up the “new Ronaldinho” and see off competition from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Costa is the star of Brazil’s Under-19 team and plays for Gremio. Fergie wants the deal sorted next week and is willing to let him stay in Brazil until next summer.
Staff writer, The Sun

United are also keeping tabs on Real Valladolid's 19-year-old Spanish U21 goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, according to the Daily Mail.

Rio Ferdinand tells various newspapers that Dimitar Berbatov's arrival has helped Wayne Rooney. He says: “One of the reasons I was happy that Berbatov signed for United was that I knew it would inspire other players in the team to step up their game. Everyone wants to impress that player and show them why they are playing for United. Wazza took that on board and has gone from strength to strength."

Real Madrid are interested in taking one of United's front men to the Bernabeu, but this time it's not Cristiano Ronaldo they're after. The Sun reckons Real are "keeping a close eye on Carlos Tevez’s negotiations with United over a new deal".

The Mirror says Edwin van der Sar may stay on another year after his current contract runs out at the end of this season.

The Daily Express suggests that the League Manager's Association wants a winter break in the Premier League.

Manchester United Official Web Site - NEWS AND FEATURES: Papers: Double Reds swoop?

[mg91]

At least Sir Alex is talking sense. You could tell from the outset that this whole thing was being hyped up, especially because Madrid have been sniffing around to.

[Dirtycheat]

Originally Posted by mg91

At least Sir Alex is talking sense. You could tell from the outset that this whole thing was being hyped up, especially because Madrid have been sniffing around to.

21 million seemed way too much.


Hopefully though, costa will prove to be a bit better than ronaldinho. We need to keep him away from burger king.

We will see how much we have to pay when the race hots up though.

[ManBearPig73]

It never hurts to get more talent on board. However we need to keep Tevez at all costs. He has been a wonderful servant to the club and is a world class player. I just hope he will be given a fair shake in the new dispensation in United as it seems that he is out of favor at the moment. But we all know that one injury at the right time can make any player the star of the season.

Tevez is the kind of player that inspire others to give their best and be their best. I love to see him play and want to see him be the star at United he should be.