United eager to strike for Bellion
Old Trafford manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been cagey about revealing his plans for the January transfer window but had previously spoken of his desire to bring a new striker to the club.
Talk of a big-money move for Eidur Gudjohnsen was always likely to be wide of the mark given the financial restrictions placed on Ferguson after his record £30 million signing of defender Rio Ferdinand last summer.
But 20-year-old Bellion, whose Black Cats deal expires in June and who has so far refused to sign a new one, would appear to fit the bill.
New United reserve-team coach Ricky Sbragia will have detailed information on Bellion from his time at Sunderland, while Ferguson is also close friends with former Wearside chief Peter Reid, who took Bellion from Cannes in 2001.
It is believed preliminary discussions have taken place between the clubs, although with United chief executive Peter Kenyon away from Old Trafford for the rest of the week, if the deal is eventually concluded it is unlikely to be done until later in the month.
Although he has made only three starting appearance for Sunderland, Bellion has been used as a substitute 15 times and netted the winner against Aston
Villa earlier this season, earning Reid a brief stay of execution before his dismissal in October.
Bellion is still regarded as being somewhat raw, but his pace is an asset United have not had since Andy Cole fell out of favour before his move to Blackburn.
Meanwhile, Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt is set to sign for Roma today, which would be to the delight of the Italian club’s coach Fabio Capello.
Dacourt has long been linked with a move to Italy, with Lazio once close to signing the 27-year-old, while Juventus were also understood to be keen at one stage.
But it is Roma who have now stepped in for Dacourt, who recently fell out of favour with Terry Venables following the appearance of a magazine article last month in which he criticised the Leeds manager and the team.
Dacourt, who was injured at the time, was fined a week’s wages following a meeting with Venables and although fit again, it is clear he no longer has a part to play in the manager’s plans as he has failed to even be given a place on the bench.
However, it shows how the transfer market has suddenly collapsed for not so long ago it looked as if Dacourt would join Lazio for £15 million, more than double the once club-record £7.2 million Leeds paid Lens in the summer of 2000.
Capello is already looking to play Dacourt in this Sunday’s league game against Chievo and is confident the player will succeed in Italy.
Brian McBride has been granted a work permit, allowing him to join Everton on a three-month loan.
The US international striker agreed to the move at the start of the month but had to wait for permission from the Home Office, which has now been granted.
Egypt defender Ibrahim Said agreed a move to Goodison Park on the same day as McBride, and Everton hope he will be granted a work permit within the next 24 hours.
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