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Fergie confirms Dong swoop
Dominic Raynor
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that the Red Devils are set to swoop for Chinese starlet Dong Fangzhuo when the transfer window opens in January.
Ferguson: Chasing Chinese striker (LaurenceGriffiths/GettyImages)
The 18-year-old Dalian Shide striker impressed during a trial spell and is now on the verge of a £1.5million move to the Premiership Champions.
'We're signing a Chinese boy, hopefully in the next few weeks,' Ferguson said. 'But we have to be careful how much we grow'
'Can we cope with another couple of million wanting to support us?'
Ferguson is currently on a trip to the United States - where the club's profile has increased since signing American goalkeeper Tim Howard in July - to promote next summer's tour.
United Plc will be hoping their new Chinese striker can have a similar effect in the Far East, but Dong is far from just a promotional signing.
The pacy striker was the pick of the teenage talent that China's top six clubs sent to Old Trafford for consideration in September, and he was asked to to extend his week-long spell to a month.
Dong, who would follow the trail blazed by Manchester City defender Sun Jihai from Dalian to the Premiership, said: 'It will be a dream to join United.
'I learned such a lot during my time at the club. My positioning and running into the box have become sharper and my heading has definitely improved.'
*I have a feeling that this is more of a commercial swoop* but I am glad a chinese is being recruited. Hope he doesnt rot in the Manure reserves
Fergie confirms Dong swoop
Dominic Raynor
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that the Red Devils are set to swoop for Chinese starlet Dong Fangzhuo when the transfer window opens in January.
Ferguson: Chasing Chinese striker (LaurenceGriffiths/GettyImages)
The 18-year-old Dalian Shide striker impressed during a trial spell and is now on the verge of a £1.5million move to the Premiership Champions.
'We're signing a Chinese boy, hopefully in the next few weeks,' Ferguson said. 'But we have to be careful how much we grow'
'Can we cope with another couple of million wanting to support us?'
Ferguson is currently on a trip to the United States - where the club's profile has increased since signing American goalkeeper Tim Howard in July - to promote next summer's tour.
United Plc will be hoping their new Chinese striker can have a similar effect in the Far East, but Dong is far from just a promotional signing.
The pacy striker was the pick of the teenage talent that China's top six clubs sent to Old Trafford for consideration in September, and he was asked to to extend his week-long spell to a month.
Dong, who would follow the trail blazed by Manchester City defender Sun Jihai from Dalian to the Premiership, said: 'It will be a dream to join United.
'I learned such a lot during my time at the club. My positioning and running into the box have become sharper and my heading has definitely improved.'
*I have a feeling that this is more of a commercial swoop* but I am glad a chinese is being recruited. Hope he doesnt rot in the Manure reserves
