Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Comment: Why aren't Reds going for Ribery?
WHEN the summer transfer window officially closes at tea time there is a percentage of United fans who believe it will slam shut on a piece of history.
Late Old Trafford incoming business has been ruled out by Sir Alex Ferguson.
But the £80m from Cristiano Ronaldo's sale is scorching the pocket lining of the concerned fans, Sir Alex called "panicky". After the defeat at Burnley, the same fans were worried the Reds' chances of becoming the first side to win four top flight titles in a row would become minimal once the market closes.
There is an even greater percentage of United critics and opposition fans who believe that will be an impossible task - having not replaced Cristiano Ronaldo with a marquee signing of similiar quality.
The final day of the transfer window is set to see Chelsea and Real Madrid going head-to-head for Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.
The French international midfielder has been one of the rare major names of the transfer speculation this summer who has remained where he was at the beginning of the frenzy.
That could still be the case this evening.
Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Huntelaar, Ibrahimovic, Eto'o, Adebayor and Tevez have all shifted around the Continent in the summer merry-go-round.
United fans would still have liked to have seen another striker join to add to the potential bargain acquisition of Michael Owen.
United's usual slowish start to the campaign has enhanced the view that the champions are still not up to full complement when it comes to match winners in the squad.
A straw poll of the Reds support would probably name Ribery as the one of the superstars bandied about during the last three months who they would have wanted to see at Old Trafford.
If Bayern are able to keep the suitors at arms length this time around, they will no doubt have to steel themselves for another round of stubborn resistance in January.
At that point an even clearer indication of how United's campaign is panning out will be evident.
If there are still doubts and question marks then a Glazer-backed massive punt for Ribery should be the New Year resolution at Old Trafford.
