UNITED IN FOR £7M CARRICK

Last updated : 09 June 2006 By Editor

So says the Independent, where it's plausible that Sam Wallace could have been rewarded with a tip-off in return for his continual sucking up to Fergie in print:

Tottenham Hotspur are steeling themselves for a bid from Manchester United for the England midfielder Michael Carrick after the Old Trafford club made an initial enquiry about the player's availability this week. A fee in the region of £7m should be enough to secure a transfer and already Tottenham are on the lookout for a replacement for him.

Sir Alex Ferguson's interest in Carrick is long-standing and he toyed with the idea of a bid for the player, 25 next month, in the January transfer window but decided to wait until the summer to make his move. Carrick has two years remaining on his contract and this summer would expect a new deal that would stretch Tottenham's pay structure to breaking point.

Carrick and his agent, David Giess, have been told that talks will be opened with Tottenham after the World Cup finals, although a salary of £50,000 a week upwards would not be sanctioned by White Hart Lane. Instead they are prepared to let him go for more than twice the £2.75m they paid West Ham for him.