Slow summer for Manchester United as transfers stall

Manchester United's summer is proving to be increasingly frustrating as they attempt an overhaul of the squad that almost won the English Premiership title last season.

That prize eluded the club after a poor end to the season that also saw them fail in their primary objective of winning the UEFA Champions League. Now summer rebuilding has run into difficulties. Midfield target Marc Vivien Foe broke a leg while training with the Cameroon World Cup squad two weeks before the Finals started. The leg has healed but the player has yet to begin serious pre-season training and until he proves his fitness his transfer to Manchester United will not go through. The player has said himself that the transfer is still going through and intends to start the new season in England.

Interest in Gabriel Batistuta has cooled and Swedish international Jesper Blomqvist was expected to sign yesterday for the club but has stalled. The promising young winger has been badly scarred by a torrid time in Italy with AC Milan and now Parma AC and all his early promise has seemed lost over the past two seasons. He has rarely played for either first team in Italy and wants assurances that he will get a chance in the Manchester United first team. Blomqvist knows that Ryan Giggs is the regular starter in his position and that Jordi Cruyff failed to displace him.

The Manchester club still expect the young Swede to complete the move by the end of the week.