http://soccernet.espn.go...nji-kagawa-deal?cc=3888

At least it seems we'll sign Kagawa.

@Ric, in all honesty, I'd have been the most surprised fan if Hazard had signed for Man Utd. Most players, despite leaning towards a particular team, are eventually guided by what's the best deal for the agent. Hazard repeatedly said he wants to play in the natural No.10 position that has allowed him to score 20 goals this season, he was more of a winger the previous season but with freedom to roam. He also required guaranteed playing time. How was he going to get that at City or United - for No.10? Of course when Chelsea won the champions league his fate was sealed. Unconfirmed reports when I watched Sky Sports leo afte suggests his agent got a cool 6M pounds for the deal,unprecedented by any standards.

So while I agree with you that Utd will now be competing on the 2nd tier for top players, next to City and Chelsea (at least this summer),I also know that the agent will know the best carrot to use to ensure he gets the best deal out of it - and Eden Hazard was always going to be the most lucrative deal of the season, unless Thiago Silva had entered the market.

Eden's skills are unquestionable - I'm sure he'll do well in Chelsea colours.Next season is setting up to be very exciting

More on Kagawa from goal.com...

http://www.goal.com/en-g...ntract-offer-for-kagawa

I like the way SAF also looks at the economic sense of a buy for the club - Kagawa will attract all the economically massive Asian following that will bring added revenue, immediately replacing the following Park has had.

By the way SAF should also look to play Ashley Young just behind the striker the same way he does for England, he seems to thrive there more than coming from the left. He used to do that effectively for Villa as well

..@smano i hear what you saying but surely the tide has been changing for some-time and to be honest wages aside rumour has it if Fergie wins the 20th title then he will call it a day and now what will happen to Man U? if what happened to Spurs is anything to go by then players are cautious. Fergie will always be an impossible act to follow and no 21 years old wants to be faced with that uncertainity.

Fergie is talking bout Value and he signed Berbatov for £30m what a horrible ROI,(however i still think he is a class act) Truth be told he knows their stock is down and he will attract players who want recognition before their next step ie Kagawa. I find it lauphable young is now been touted as a no 10 where he performed against a below average Norway who dint even make it to the Euros? i ask what has changed from Villa - nothing just that he is playing for Man U, same as jones (rem how he faded in the 2nd half) Lets wait for next season (in my mind i have signing of the decade or so they said of one chicharito always difficult to replicate the first season in a club.However i wish them well.

As far as I'm concerned Ashley Young has not had the sort of effect I expected from him in Man Utd - he used to score more goals at Villa! Our squad is good enough to compete in EPL as people like Smalling, Jones, De Gea, Cleverley, maybe Rafael mature while players like Anderson and Fletcher regain some semblance of form and people like Nani come out of their inconsistency shells - Man Utd is a good side "as a team" but not good enough to compete in CL with the likes of Real,Barca,Bayern,Chelsea,AC etc. Perhaps signings like Kagawa will add an extra edge,but we need additions at the left back and a Lewandowski/Lliorente esque like player up front for steele - I think that will be enough for us to take maybe another season of rebuilding the squad before we can start talking about CL - I am assuming ofcourse that the "usual suspects" will get better next season.

Then the club has to start thinking about the replacement for Fergie when the time comes. For me it has to be a big name...small names and big clubs don't rhyme, but that's just me...

For those of you speaking of the Great Man United in past tense, it seems you don't read widely. Try the links below:

Read this. Then come up with all sorts of excuses/explanations!!!

Argue with Forbes if you so wish!