Glazers snub £1.5bn Utd bid

THE RED KNIGHTS' hopes of a Manchester United takeover suffered a hammer blow last night as it was claimed the Glazer family have already rejected a £1.5billion bid.

The group of wealthy United fans were understood to be planning a £1.2bn offer for the club this summer.

But news of the Glazers' reluctance to accept a higher offer, believed to be from a Middle East consortium last year, is a massive stumbling block.

United supporters have shown their discontent for the Glazer regime with their 'green and gold' protests at Old Trafford this season.

Fans are unhappy with the lack on investment in the team, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo's world record £80million sale to Real Madrid last year.

Boss Alex Ferguson last week said he did not expect to splash out in the transfer window.

Supporters are also worried by the club's spiralling debts which stand at over £700million.

Many hoped the protests would pile pressure on the American owners and force them into selling the Premier League champions.

However, the Glazer family have remained defiant and have always said they wanted to keep hold of the club.

As well as the £1.5bn bid, it is also claimed that the Glazers have rejected a number of other offers in excess of £1bn during recent months.

Wayne: United must Roo better

WAYNE ROONEY has assessed Manchester United's season and concluded: Not good enough.

The champions are still in with a chance of landing the title on Sunday.

But, after seven defeats in the League, they must beat Stoke in their final game and hope leaders Chelsea drop points in their home clash with Wigan. Lose out and United will have only the Carling Cup to show for their efforts this term.

Hitman Rooney said: "If we could have stayed more consistent and not lost so many games we would have won the League but we've lost too many games.

"We shouldn't be losing seven games at this club."

The Reds also lost to League One Leeds in the third round of the FA Cup and went out in the Champions League quarter-finals, to Bayern Munich.

Rooney said: "The FA Cup defeat to Leeds was not good enough. As for the Champions League, we were a bit unlucky considering the way we started against Bayern.

"I couldn't see us losing that tie. But we went out on away goals and it was hard to take."

United, bidding for a fourth consecutive Premier League crown, needed deadly rivals Liverpool to do them a favour against Chelsea last Sunday.

But the Blues won 2-0 at Anfield ahead of United's 1-0 victory at Sunderland. United defender Gary Neville admitted: "I think when you leave it in the hands of others you have to take the punishment. We saw that on Sunday.

"We did our job which is all we could do and now we must hope something happens next Sunday. We live in hope. After the draw at Blackburn a few weeks ago we thought all hope had gone so at least we are still in it.

"But we will be kicking ourselves if it doesn't go our way on Sunday - the mistakes that we have made have been unusual.

"It's been a crazy season and I hope we don't come to regret it."

Evans agrees new United deal

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has revealed Jonny Evans has agreed a new long-term deal with the club.

After a couple of spells on loan at Sunderland, Evans has made huge progress at Old Trafford in the last two seasons.

The Northern Ireland international has made 64 first-team appearances for United, the latest coming in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.

And the 22-year-old has proved himself good enough to stand in for Rio Ferdinand during the defender's increasingly frequent injury absences.

Ferguson said: "Jonny has proved himself. He has signed a new contract and helps to provide a good foundation for the club for a long time."

Silva service on offer for United

SPAIN star David Silva admits he would find it hard to turn down a move to Manchester United.

The winger has been linked with a transfer away from Valencia and is reportedly interesting Old Trafford chief Alex Ferguson.

And Silva, 24, has told the United boss he would be keen to make the switch to Manchester if the opportunity arose.

He said: "When you hear a club like Manchester United is interested in you it is an honour.

"I am very aware of the Premier League, and in recent years it has been the stand-out league in the world.

"If it came calling — especially if it was a club like Manchester United — it would be very hard to resist.

"I am happy at Valencia, but every player has his price and if they get an offer they think is good business anything is possible."

Hargreaves: I've plenty left in me

It may have only been a fleeting appearance, but Owen Hargreaves' return to action for the final seconds of United's victory at Sunderland marked the completion of a long and frustrating journey for the midfielder.

Up until Sunday, Hargreaves had not been seen in a United shirt since September 2008 following double knee surgery to cure a tendonitis problem.

The 29-year-old admits the experience has been a tough one, but he is delighted to be back and feels he has plenty left in the tank yet.

"I’ve missed two seasons and I’m disappointed about that. But I’m 29 and hopefully I’ve got another six to eight years left in me," insisted Hargreaves at United's Player of the Year awards.

"Being out for so long is obviously not something I would have envisaged myself going through. It’s been a learning experience and I try and take the positives from it.

"It was short [against Sunderland] but obviously I’m looking forward to next season. We’ve got our last game this weekend [against Stoke] and hopefully I’ll play a bit again, and then hopefully get ready to attack next season.”

They think it’s all over

PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs believe Chelsea have the title in the bag as the REAL trophy will be at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

While the Blues host Wigan, a REPLICA will be at Old Trafford where Manchester United must beat Stoke and hope Chelsea draw or lose.

WE HAVE LIFT OFF ... Fergie raises last year's

trophy - but if he does it again at Old Trafford it'll only be a replica

Rooney wins club award treble

Wayne Rooney has been named Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2010 after a fantastic season for United.

It's the second time he's won the award, as voted for by United fans around the world, following his original success in 2006.

He won by a landslide this year, receiving 83 per cent of the votes cast on ManUtd.com. Patrice Evra and Antonio Valencia were in second and third place respectively.

Rooney is the first Englishman to be named United's Player of the Year since Teddy Sheringham in 2001. Should he retain it in 2011, he'll become only the second man to win it three times, emulating Cristiano Ronaldo (2004, 2007 and 2008).

Wayne's club accolade completes a personal Player of the Year hat-trick for this season, after his peers in the PFA and the nation's top football journalists in the FWA also made him their top man for 2009/10.

He also won a hat-trick of club awards on Tuesday night, collecting the Players' Player of the Year accolade from Sir Alex Ferguson and also the Goal of the Season trophy for his strike on the counter-attack against Arsenal on 31 January.

"I was a bit surprised I got Goal of the Season," Wayne told MUTV. "To win both the players’ and fans’ Player of the Year is a great feeling and it’s something I’m very proud of.”