Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Sneijder slips the United net
World Cup star Wesley Sneijder looks to have slipped from Manchester United's grasp. The Dutch midfield ace, who was a shoe-in for the FIFA dream team chosen after this summer's tournament in South Africa, was high on the Reds' target list. But Sir Alex Ferguson, who is known admirer of the 26-year-old, didn't make a bid although he has been monitoring Sneijder's on-off protracted contract talks at Inter Milan. The instant success of Sneijder's international team-mate Rafael Van der Vaart at Tottenham, who paid a bargain £7m to Real Madrid, together with United's need for an inspirational midfield playmaker, raised hopes of a January transfer window bid. But any prospect of a switch to Old Trafford now appear to be doomed with Sneijder expected to sign a new deal with Inter later this month. Sneijder has been involved in talks over extending his contract with the Serie A giants for four months. Now he is set to prolong his stay in Italy by two years, until June 2015. Sneijder said: This is my club ... I am very happy here and in 15 days' time I will complete the deal for my renewal. According to reports in Milan,the new deal means Sneijder, who joined Inter from Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, will earn around £4.5m a year. Sneijder, along with German Mesut Ozil, were the outstanding stars of the World Cup. Ozil, who played a pivotal role in the morale-sapping defeat of England and also the quarter-final victory over Argentina became the number one target of Europe's elite. United were in that group but Ozil switched from Borussia Dortmund in the summer to join Jose Mourinho's Madrid for a reputed £16m. Would you like to see Sneijder at United? Have your say. [LNB]
