With Manchester United losing out to Barcelona in the capture of Brazilian wizard Ronaldinho, it has become increasingly likely that United will move swiftly in a bid to lure Damien Duff away from a move to Chelsea.
Manager Alex Ferguson will disembark from a 14-hour journey to the United States later this evening determined to wreck Damien Duff's proposed move to the Stamford Bridge side. By the time Ferguson and his Manchester United squad land in the west coast city of Portland, Oregon, word will have filtered through that their self-imposed deadline for the capture of Ronaldinho has passed without a reply.
Even worse, the Red Devils boss will learn that his major summer transfer target has flown to Barcelona in the hope of concluding a £20million move from Paris St Germain.
Having missed out on Harry Kewell and with David Beckham settling into his new home in Madrid, Ferguson will be eager to bring a big name signing in a bid to boost his squad and appease fans. The word is that Duff would jump at the chance to join the set-up at Old Trafford and link up with former Irish captain Roy Keane.
The move could mean Duff gets his trans-Atlantic flight after all, having been withdrawn from the Blackburn party currently training on the east coast of the USA on Wednesday after Chelsea matched Rovers' £17million valuation for the Irish international.
However, Ferguson will need to move quickly to scupper Duff's move to Chelsea, with the Irish winger said to be undergoing a medical in London later today.
Filed by Stephen Cummins
