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Transfer Talk: Lahm and Benzema | Evra’s Contract

So the festive season is well and truly on. The Anfield win just makes things feel a lot more special. However, the busy period has just begun and we will be stupid if we thought the title has been all but wrapped up. We have another Scouse team to deal with — in the form of Everton — and they have proven this season that they are no mugs. More on them when we get closer to the date of the clash.

Meanwhile, Cristiano must be feeling a wee bit sick in the stomach. After being kept quiet for much of the Liverpool game, he would have been shocked to see himself finish third — behind Lionel Messi — in the FIFA World Player of the Year Award. It’s one thing finishing second best on two previous awards. But finishing behind a player who, despite his obvious talents, has not really won anything of note and yet is in the fray, would be rather gutting for an ambitious lad like Ronaldo.

Oh well, the FIFA Awards are a sham; sour grapes, and all that.

Moving on to some useful discussion, the papers are talking up Philip Lahm and Karim Benzema as possible transfer targets. Now I see this kind of talk posted day in and day out, but I thought this to be worth discussing for specific reasons.

Regarding Lahm, I am sure there are quite a few enthusiastic readers on here who are well acquainted with this German full back. Brown’s dodgy displays, at times, and his contract wrangle would force us to move for a right back as Neville’s career will draw to a close sooner than later. Lahm is about the right age, has good pace moving forward, and can play on either flank. Versatility has been something Fergie seems to prefer in his defence and he fits the bill. Willy Sagnol is the other Bayern defender linked with us, but age might work against him.

About Karim Benzema, he’s a 19 year old French striker who starts for Lyon. He’s is already setting the pace as far as goal scoring is concerned in the French Lique 1 and he just pissed all over Rangers the other day in the Champions’ League. He’s also scored goals for the French National team. He looks a strong lad and seems to be good with his finishing, apart from having good aerial ability. More importantly, he’s got age in his favour. He can be given time to work his way into the team, coming off the bench initially.

Will they come in January? I doubt that. Replacing Brown with Lahm in January wouldn’t be a good idea because Lahm would be cup tied in the Champions’ League. (Bayern are in the UEFA Cup, which would rule the German out of any European competition.) Plus, he would need to settle down in the club. Again, that is something we can’t afford to allow when the title race hots up.

The same with Benzema. He is cup tied and we can’t afford to lose Saha (as that is what the deal involving Benzema is about in the papers) for him, however injury prone Saha is.

The two look good prospects, no doubt. So do we need to move for them right now?

Meanwhile, Evra has yet to open contract negotiations. After the Anfield display I don’t have too many doubts regarding him being offered an extension. And he only endears himself to the United faithful by saying things like “I have a growing love for this club.” and “I feel Mancunian deep down”

Someone, please offer him a new deal. Please!

And finally, as expected, Anderson scooped up the Man of the Match Award in Manutd.com’s polls.

Back to the topic, of course, let us know what you think of our transfer targets.

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