United bid 16m for Valencia but old foes Real are lurking
MANCHESTER United and Real Madrid look set to resume hostilities in the transfer market this week as the race to sign Luis Antonio Valencia heats up.
Wigan wide man Valencia’s displays last season earned him plenty of admirers and it is understood that both United and Real have lodged bids in excess of £16m.
The relationship between the two clubs has soured in recent years, despite both David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy swapping Old Trafford for the Santiago Bernabeu. In December Sir Alex Ferguson declared he “wouldn’t sell them a virus”, as his side’s World Club Championship preparations were disrupted by reports from Spain that Real had a pre-contract agreement with United’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
But speculation remains rife that the Portuguese winger will move to Spain this summer and news that United have bid for Ecuador international Valencia, a possible replacement, will only fuel rumours.
New Real president Florentino Perez has attempted to build bridges with United, tempering confirmation of his interest in Ronaldo by insisting his relationship with the club was more important than attempts to sign the winger.
One United player who may be leaving Old Trafford this summer is striker Fraizer Campbell, after the Premier League champions reportedly accepted a £6m bid from Hull.
Campbell was loaned out to Hull in 2007 and scored 15 goals in 34 starts to help the Tigers to promotion, but spent last season on loan at Tottenham as part of the deal that took Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford. Having consolidated their position in the top flight, Hull boss Phil Brown is keen to re-capture his services and is expected to discuss personal terms with Campbell today.