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4th April 2011
11:43am BST
He might only be a Premier League baby but Alex Ferguson reckons James McClean is just the man to offer some old-fashioned wing power to Manchester United, according to reports this morning.
It has been some 2012 for James McClean. Since making his Premier League debut for Sunderland on December , the Derry youngster has become a genuine star at the Stadium of Light, earned his first Republic of Ireland cap and even had Alan Shearer say a few nice things about him on Match of the Day.
Perhaps most important of all for McClean was the new deal he signed at Sunderland, which nets the 22-year-old a cool €25,000 a week and ties him to Martin O’Neill’s side until 2015. But according to this morning’s Irish Daily Star, Alex Ferguson has see enough of McClean to know that he wants him flying down the Old Trafford left.
With Ryan Giggs now operating exclusively down the middle, and with Nani and Ashley Young also useful in other positions, Fergie sees the young Irishman as the ideal out-and-out winger for the Red Devils left side.
We have know he likes that type of player down the years and Antonio Valencia is doing that job right now on the United right. The paper reports that €12million is the fee Fergie has in mind but that sounds a bit low to us, considering what we have already seen from McClean and his massive potential.
If the move does go ahead, it will mean quids in for Mclean’s former club Derry City. They are in line for 15 per cent of any sell on, so even a €12m fee will mean a very welcome €1.8m landing in the Brandywell coffers.
It is reported that Sunderlad are trying to buy out that clause, offering the Airtricity League side €580,000 to drop it but the Candystripes are holding firm. As they should.
As Irish fans some of us may be worried that McClean could suffer the fate of Liam Miller or the countless others who have gotten lost in the Old Trafford machine but we think McClean is good enough and strong enough to thrive at Old Trafford. And as McClean grew up supporting United, he would surely jump at any such move.
What do you reckon? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @JOEdotie.
