good news for me and the other manutd fans hes a great keeper!!!
But I also feel sorry for bozzie(bosnich)
coz he is quite good too!

phil

Press conference in 10 mins.

Ferguson is barking up the wrong tree here. He has a defence which is falling apart (except for Stam), and a world-class keeper in Bosnich, so what does he do? Buys another keeper. I'll tell you what, he will be wishing now the the name on Markus Babbel's pre-contract is Manchester United and not Liverpool.

drinky i know he should be buying defenders but theyve got the money so don't be surprised when theyll byt anither 2 top defenders this summer!
It will probably be:
1 barthez
2 bosnich
3 van der gouw

forget about taibi

Actually, I think it's about damn time Manchester got themselves a worthy keeper. Bosnich is terrific, but he
a)doesn't coordinate his defence enough
b)isn't a team leader

Schmeichel was both, so is (will be) Barthez.

Also, I don't see why buying a goalkeeper means they can't - or won't - buy an additional defender...
Now Manchester United (why doesn't anyone write their full name anymore?) will have a decent subsititue keeper, and not be limited to Raymond "the oldest keeper on earth" van der Gouw...

(And, dammit, Barthez IS still the world champion!)

Barthez talks cloud Bosnich future AAP .

Manchester United have confirmed they're trying to seal the transfer of Monaco and France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

United are reported to be prepared to pay Barthez £10 million over six years, equivalent to £50,000-a-week.

The fee would break the world record fee for a goalkeeper.

Barthez arrived in Manchester after being given leave from France's Euro 2000 training camp, with French media reporting he's about to sign a six-year contract with the English giant.

If Barthez moves to Manchester, Australian Mark Bosnich's position as United's No.1 keeper will be under further threat.

Persisent rumors in France have suggested the World Cup-winning goalkeeper could be about to leave Monaco, although Barthez recently denied reports linking him with Manchester United and said he hopes to see out his contract.

The day after France beat Croatia 2-0 in a friendly, French Football Federation president Claude Simonet said: "The transfer market is very busy right now and we have asked Doctor Campora (Monaco president) to take full responsibility for the player."

United spokesman Ken Ramsden said: "It's true to say that discussions are underway, but nothing has been concluded yet and he certainly hasn't had a medical yet.

"We hope to progress further on Tuesday."

French television station Canal Plus has reported that Barthez was about to sign a six-year contract.

France coach Roger Lemerre has ordered his 22 players to settle their transfers for next season before the start of the European championship.

Most of the French squad stayed in Croatia after Sunday's match in Zagreb to play a friendly against a club side.

They were due to fly from Paris to Morocco on Thursday for a four-nation tournament in Casablanca.

Barthez will be a good signing. 10m is a bit steep but he will probably be better than the inconsistent Bosnich. I reckon the choice order will be as follows:

1. Barthez
2. Bosnich
3. Van Der Gouw (although Der Gouw may go into coaching. Rumour has it that Schmeichel and him are close mates and could coach a Dutch team next season??)

Sol Campell will be United's only other signing of the Summer. I think Irwin may transfer soon allowing Silvestre and Phil Neville to compete for Left Back.

My proposed United for next season:

GK Barthez, RB G.Neville, LB Silvestre, CB Campbell, CB Stam, RW Beckham, LW Giggs, CM Keane, CM Scholes, CF Yorke, ST Cole.

P.S. Can anyone give me the link to the Sky Sports Patch because the one on fifa2000.net isn't working?

I don't know about getting Campbell - Tottenham seem pretty serious about keeping him, and they've already shelled out 11 million for Rebrov and signed Neil Sullivan to show Campbell they mean to be contenders.

I think Fergie will go after Villa's Ugo Ehiogu who's a very very good and very underrated defender who'd be a perfect foil for Jaap Stam - this seems even more likely as Ehiogu has already said he wants to leave Villa.

The Barthez signing would be an excellent one, and it would also bring Ferguson's goalkeeper spending to something like 15 million in his attempts to replace Peter Schmiceal (spelllllinggggg), which makes me wonder - why didn't he just go after Barthez or Van Der Saar in the first place?

Now im a litel confused here.....

but does everything say that bosnich is inconsistent because the media syas so??

i mena yes there have been the one or two mishaps but he has also kept man u in the game many times!
i can name 2 off the top of my head
-1st leg...real madrid
-vs leeds at elland rd

is stoopid ferguson wants bosnich to perform better than how bout saying that he is the no 1 keeper and then knowing that he has his place in the team he will get his confidence back. Let him work on his kicking because he is one of the best shot stoppers in the world.

Barthez has what Bosnich lacks: Ferguson
- AAP

So now Mark Bosnich knows why Manchester United is about to sign France's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

Barthez, with his shaven head and zen attitude, has the presence and personality to lift the team and Bosnich has not had quite the same effect on the world's most famous club side.

That was the reason given by United manager Alex Ferguson in Manchester overnight with Barthez only to finish medical tests tonight to complete a STG8 million ($A21 million) transfer from Monaco.

Ferguson believed his team had been lacking an important element since the imposing Peter Schmeichel left a year ago and was replaced by Socceroo captain and goalkeeper Bosnich.

"The first thing which attracted me to Fabien is that he is an outstanding goalkeeper," Ferguson said. "But after Peter Schmeichel, we needed a little bit more than that.

"Peter had a great presence and a wonderful personality which rubbed off on the rest of the team. Mark Bosnich and Raimond Van Der Gouw are both terrific keepers but neither have quite the personality that Schmeichel possessed.

"Fabien has. He is a real character. He's bouncy and bubbly, just like Schmeichel was, and hopefully he is going to have a similar influence on the rest of the team."

It's just the latest challenge for Bosnich who was due to arrive in Australia tomorrow to join the Socceroo camp, although a thigh injury has him in doubt for the three-match series against Paraguay.

His Australian manager Leo Karis said Bosnich would do as he had done all year and stay to fight for his place with the Premier League champions.

"He's never shirked a challenge and Mark will do everything in his power to stay the number one goalkeeper at Manchester United," Karis said today.

"This does not come as a surprise or as a shock. The manager Alex Ferguson was always going to sign another goalkeeper," he said.

Barthez was undergoing exhaustive medical tests in Manchester.

"It will be late this evening before all the tests on Fabien are completed," Ferguson said.

"But there are no worries about Barthez's fitness and I am confident that we will be given the go-ahead by the doctors to complete the transfer."

Campbell has committed himself to Spurs. He wont leave. Mark my words... Fergie will go for someone else it would cost too much for him to get Campbell.

Grrrr Neutral! I was going to be all smug and say that I bet Ehiogu will go to United then laugh that I was the first person to say it! I would bet my house on Ehiogu joining United, seeing as he has said he is definitely leaving Villa, has been described as the best English defender in the Premiership by Mr Hansen, and is known to be a favourite of Ferguson. £10 million? Suits Gregory.

Barthez completes United switch
Exclusive to Sportal

Manchester United have completed the signing of Monaco goalkeeper Fabien Barthez for £7.8million.

The France international has signed a six-year deal with the club after completing negotiations with United deputy chief-executive Peter Kenyon.

Barthez, 28, was presented to the media at Old Trafford but his tenuous grasp of English meant it was a brief encounter.

He claimed it was "fantastic" to have joined the club, adding: "I have played in a World Cup final and Champions League final before and nothing troubles me.

"I'm here to win and stay a long, long time. I'm so, so happy to sign a six-year deal. Everybody knows Manchester United are the big club, the big team, and are very impressive.

"Last year I spoke with my president at Monaco and he told me I was staying with them for four years. Last week he said the same thing and I was very sad but when I found out I could talk to United this week it was an easy decision to make. I was enormously flattered.

"I spoke to Thierry Henry at Arsenal and he told me it's fantastic to play in the Premiership. It is tougher in England but now the long ball game is finished it's great to play here."

The signing had been held up by discussions over the financial aspects of the deal but these problems appear to have been resolved. It is reported that Barthez will receive £45,000 per week.

United's medical team also verified the fitness of the player at lunchtime today after an exhaustive range of medical checks were carried out yesterday evening.

The French goalkeeper will now join up with his international team-mates after being given special dispensation by the French FA to miss two days of the national side's preparations for Euro 2000.

What now for Bosnich?
- AAP

The tenuous nature of Socceroo Mark Bosnich's place at Manchester United was confirmed today when French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez officially joined the world's biggest club.

Confirming what had been expected since he arrived in Manchester on the weekend, Barthez signed a six-year contract after United paid AS Monaco STG7.8 million ($A20.44 million) for his services -- a British record for a goalkeeper.

Bosnich has in the past vowed to fight any challenges for the position of No.1 'keeper with the English premiership champions.

But there is little doubt Barthez will slot straight into that role, especially since United will pay him around STG45,000 ($A118,000) a week -- second only to the club's highly prized captain, Roy Keane.

United would therefore be tempted to sell Bosnich. It would make a tidy profit, having gained him for free from Aston Villa under the Bosman ruling, and may now consider Bosnich's STG30,000 ($A78,600)-per-week salary excessive alongside that of Barthez.

The 28-year-old Barthez was also lauded by manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the type of personality required to replace the colossal figure of Dane Peter Schmeichel, who left the club at the end of season 1998-99.

Ferguson has bluntly said Bosnich, while a "terrific" 'keeper, did not have the dominating on-field personality that his predecessor used to organise his side.

But in view of Bosnich's excellent form this year, speculation will continue that the strict Scottish manager simply could not warm to the laid-back, super-confident Aussie.

Bosnich, 28, arrives in Australia tomorrow to join the Socceroo camp. But while he could move to any number of European clubs -- formidable Italian outfit AS Roma is said to be interested -- his Australian manager Leo Karis said Bosnich would stay to fight for his place with the Premier League champion.

"He's never shirked a challenge and Mark will do everything in his power to stay the number one goalkeeper at Manchester United," Karis said.

But even if he doesn't sell Bosnich, Ferguson also indicated just what a battle he would have if he stayed as he delivered another snub to the Aussie while praising Barthez.

"Fabien is a World Cup winner and has not only the personality but the vast experience that is required at Manchester United," he said. "It's an area in which Peter Schmeichel excelled, for he too had a great personality."

Barthez also said he was fully confident of slotting into the No.1 goalkeeping role.

"I have played in a World Cup final and Champions League final before and nothing troubles me," he said.

"Peter Schmeichel was a great, great goalkeeper and he played here for a very long time. I need to be strong but I don't find it daunting. I'm here to win and stay a long, long time."

Exacerbating his problems at United, Bosnich has a thigh injury which has him in grave doubt for Australia's forthcoming three-match series against Paraguay.


Bosnich wants free transfer
Exclusive to Sportal

Mark Bosnich has defiantly vowed to see out his contract at Manchester United unless they decide to give him a free transfer.

The Australian keeper was signed last season as replacement for Peter Schmeichel but failed to live up to the standards set by the Danish international.

He faced competition throughout the campaign from Raimond van der Gouw and Massimo Taibi and will now almost certainly play second fiddle to £7.8 million signing Fabien Barthez.

Following the acquisition of Barthez, Bosnich issued a statement through his agent Steve Kutner in which he sought to clarify his position.

It read: "Manchester United signed me last summer on a free transfer to stop me signing for one of their major Italian rivals.

"When Manchester United inform me that I am free to leave under those same terms, I will do so. Until such time, I have three years remaining on my Manchester United contract and I intend to see them out."

His words could create friction at Old Trafford with manager Alex Ferguson sure to seek a substantial fee for a player still rated by many as a top class keeper. However the Australian international seems determined that United should not be allowed to cash in.

The former Villa star, criticised by Ferguson for lacking the "personality" of Schmeichel, added: "Having won two major trophies and seen off previous challenges to my number one position, my performances in the crucial matches last season speak for themselves."





[This message has been edited by Hunnter (edited 06-01-2000).]