IS THAT A THREAT OR A PROMISE?
From the MEN:
Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll will wait until the end of the season before deciding whether to sign a new contract at Old Trafford. Carroll is stalling on a three-year deal. Francis Martin, Carroll's agent, said:
"On one hand, he could stay and end up as being third choice goalkeeper. On the other does he take a big risk by leaving Manchester United? It's a big decision for him."
Martin said Carroll's hesitation is "certainly nothing to do with money."
United chief executive David Gill has already confirmed there is no more cash on the table for Carroll. The Old Trafford hierarchy are convinced Carroll will struggle to find the same terms elsewhere, although Martin insists the delaying tactics are not an attempt to attract offers from rival clubs.
"We are not trying to drum up extra interest, it is purely a professional decision on Roy's part. His preference would still be to stay at United but he wants to be clear in his mind that he is seen as a long-term first-team prospect.
"A month ago it looked like that was the case but unfortunately, he has made a couple of mistakes recently and that might have put doubt in the manager's mind again."
United chief executive David Gill has already confirmed there is no more cash on the table for Carroll. The Old Trafford hierarchy are convinced Carroll will struggle to find the same terms elsewhere, although Martin insists the delaying tactics are not an attempt to attract offers from rival clubs.
"We are not trying to drum up extra interest, it is purely a professional decision on Roy's part. His preference would still be to stay at United but he wants to be clear in his mind that he is seen as a long-term first-team prospect.
"A month ago it looked like that was the case but unfortunately, he has made a couple of mistakes recently and that might have put doubt in the manager's mind again."
Meanwhile, in the Guardian:
Manchester United are giving serious consideration to withdrawing their offer of a new contract for Roy Carroll. The final say will rest with Sir Alex Ferguson and the indications from Old Trafford are that he has run out of patience with the Northern Ireland international goalkeeper.
Ferguson, who has spent £19.1m in six years trying to find a replacement for Peter Schmeichel, plans to give Howard an extended run and has already instructed the club's scouting network to concentrate their efforts on finding a new goalkeeper for next season. If they locate the right candidate, Carroll will almost certainly, like United's third-choice goalkeeper Ricardo López, be surplus to requirements when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Also in the MEN:
Tim Howard is prepared to stay and fight for his Old Trafford future. The American goalkeeper has struggled to emulate the form of last season during the current campaign and, prior to Saturday's recall against Portsmouth, had not made a league start since September.
Howard, though, has insisted that for all the frustration of losing his place and the talk of a top class keeper coming in he has no intention of quitting.
"The coward's way would be to leave. I am going to fight. I enjoy the challenge of improving and doing well and I plan on staying here. Of course I am frustrated when I am not playing. If you are enjoying not playing then there's something wrong.”
"The coward's way would be to leave. I am going to fight. I enjoy the challenge of improving and doing well and I plan on staying here. Of course I am frustrated when I am not playing. If you are enjoying not playing then there's something wrong.”
And:
United target Silvio Proto is poised to turn down a lucrative switch to the Premiership in order to sign for a top Belgian side.
The Belgian international is thought to be one of a number of keepers being watched by the Reds as they prepare to once again delve into the transfer market in an attempt to pluck out the next Peter Schmeichel.
However United, along with Premiership rivals Arsenal, are likely to be disappointed with Proto announcing that his favoured option is to stay in Belgium.
"Officially I haven't been contacted yet," the La Louviere keeper told Het Nieuwsblad. "I would personally prefer a move to a top Belgian team."