Schneider on brink

10/08/2011 08:45

David Maddock in The Mirror writes...

Wesley Sneijder will thrash out his future over the next 48 hours, after his move to Manchester United took a major step closer on Tuesday. The Dutch winger was hoping to hold formal talks with the Premier League club in London on Thursday, following his country’s friendly international with England at Wembley. But the riot-induced postponement of the fixture has moved that process forward, and now the 27-year-old will speak with his club, Inter Milan, on Wednesday to seek permission to begin negotiations in earnest. Sneijder hinted this week that informal talks have already begun over the transfer, with the two clubs close to arriving at a fee somewhere in the region of £32million. His representatives will be in Milan on Wednesday, hoping to speed up the process, which would allow the player to fly into England to thrash out the terms of a near £200,000 a week contract.

In the same paper, Peter Schmeichel has labelled criticism of David De Gea "ridiculous" after the Spanish goalkeeper's United debut in Sunday's Community Shield victory. The former Reds stopper said: "I think it is absolutely ridiculous, listening to people criticising him after one game."

Meanwhile, the opening round of Premier League fixtures, scheduled for this weekend, have been cast into doubt due to the rioting in several parts of Britain. London games are thought to be most under threat, with Tottenham due to host Everton, Aston Villa travelling to Fulham and QPR welcoming Bolton. 

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