Interesting development, how true it is we currently have no idea.

If it is true, then I look at it through a positive light. Firstly, it shows that we really want Naughton. In the past with players like Gunter and a couple others who I can't remember, we were interested but only at certain price; of those players, I cannot remember one that has really shone in the Premier League.

I have even less of an idea of how good Kyle 2 is compared to Kyle 1, however apparently Kyle 2 can play both right and left back and is highly rated. If it means an extra highly talented youngster in the squad then it can only be good (£3mil would be a steal if he turns out to be good, also offers cover for Baines).

However, if this extra £3mil bid had been earmarked for another area i.e. right mid or def mid, and we thus lose out in that position, then I would not be happy.

However from what I have read, Naughton is a player who would offer a great deal to us. There is no denying how much improved our team's performances were (both effectively & ascetically) when Baines entered the team. Having that on both sides would really push us towards that 4th spot.

I also suspect Ossie would be more effective with a good fullback to link up with (however, it would still not be enough to justify not signing a better right midfielder)

Anyway I’m waffleing, too much drink...

Get them both in for me; both good players. I saw them once or twice last season and they both look impressive and they're versatile too. Naughton plays right-back but can cover at left-back and Walker can play either right-back or centre-back and they're as good as each other.

When I saw Sheff Utd play in the play-off semi’s, I forget who they played, and those two were at both full-back spots: Walker on right, Naughton on left, and they were up and down all game, even chasing balls down in opposition corner flags in injury time.

They can run for days, great engines on 'em and they were both defensively sound, well in that game they seemed it. Judging by that one game, and the play-off final too, they both look good players already and will definitely be great prospects in the future for sure. Already, from what I've seen, the pair of them are better than Hibbert and Neville put together, a million times better!

And I would love there to be some substance to the Cana rumours coming out tonight, a quality player and for £6m as reported he would be an absolute steal!

The reports are about as accurate as those suggesting that Micah Richards was seen at Goodison, when in fact he was on hols with swine flu!

Is Kyle Walker really worth £6 Million? Is Moyes really going to be bullied into this by United and Spurs? Are we really going to waste our summer on a secondary left-back target when the right-wing is desperately our weakest link?

Moyes won’t compromise his integrity.

Silly season, silly rumour.

Good article, what I would like to know (assuming this story is true) is what happens if this scenario happens: Kyle Naughton looks at Everton and says, "They sold Lars Jacobsen, Phil Neville now plays in midfield and Tony HIbbert has been indifferent and unfit for the majority of 3 seasons where as Spurs have Hutton, Corluka, and Chimbonda so i’ll pick Everton as I'm more likely to play."

Kyle Walker says, "Well, Spurs havent hadn’t a consistent Left Back in 3 years, they have tried Edgar Davids and Lee Young Peo there to no effect. They never won a game with Gareth Bale there and Jamie O’Hara plays left back and Centre Mid so there Left Back position is up for grabs whereas Everton have Leighton Baines who was excellent and consistent from December onwards and is arguably England's 3rd choice Left Back, there is also Joleon Lescott who is more than adequate cover. Therefore I choose Spurs as I have a better chance of getting the Left Back Berth."

What happens then? Do we just proceed with our £5mil bid for Naughton and Spurs go on for £3mil for Walker or do we have to get back the drawing board and haggle again and waste more time and possibly miss out on other targets? Sort it smoothly and quickly Davey!

Michael J - Kyle Walker isn’t a left back.

He plays centre half or right back.

Straight off the bat: We do not desprately need Cana or a player of his ilk, that position is more than adequately covered by Neville and Rodwell (hopefully the later over the former); spending more money on this area would be the real crime. We need a creative, left, right or central midfield player prefferably with pace.

In relation to the original story of a joint bid, I first came across this story last night on the same site which broke the news that Jo had been at Finch Farm for medical tests, this was around two hours before the story was picked up anywhere else. Therefore a source which holds some degree of credibility in my opinion.

With regards to Walker's postion, both he and Naughton where deployed at left-back at various stages last season and while obviously not their preferred side they are able to do a job (this offering cover for Baines if required). Walker is primarily a right-back.

Price-wise, around £8million for two of the country's most promising young defenders, at a time when English players switch clubs for vastly inflated prices, seems like a decent deal. Providing we have enough left in the pot for one midfielder, let’s do it if only for the sake of shitting on Slimy Redknapp. (How sweet this would be.) Take the development rate of Jags, Lescott et al and now imagine we had got them in a few years earlier, an exciting thought.

Ismael,

Filling a position that we have been needing filled for years is not a crime. The scenario you paint involves leaving one of the wing players or the Fellaini/Cahill position out of the first team.

What we need is a defensive midfielder who can also cover the central creativity that is also required. In short, a defensive midfielder who also possesses neat ball skills and a wide range of passing.

This player would be in competition with Rodwell and Neville... not in addition to them. Personally, I think Neville is not a good midfielder in the slightest... and Rodwell is suffering from over-hyping.

I agree with you totally regards Neville in midfield Ciaran, but looking at your second paragraph, I think you’ve just described Rodwell’s MOTM performance against Germany, the lad will be a star.

Ismael, there’s no way I want to see Neville starting as our holding midfield player next season, he’s simply not good enough. Yes, he did a good job for us last season, don't get me wrong, but if we're to progress as a team we need better quality in there!

As for Rodwell, I think he’s still too young and inexperienced to play that role regularly next season and to be honest, I don't think he’s the answer either. Yeah, he’s definitely got talent and can definitely spray the ball about but when I watched him last season and in the Under-21s you could see he isn't a natural midfield player. Yes, he can pass the ball but he never makes space for himself when off the ball. Time after time he was dropping deep to get the ball off the back four or wanting it off the other midfield players and the majority of the time they were ignoring him cos he was marked up by someone. He never did enough to get away from his marker so that he could recieve the ball.

Anyway, Moyesy as already said his position will be centre-back and that Rodwell is learning is trade in midfield for now so we are going to need someone for that role and for £6m, Cana would be the perfect signing. A quality player, young, big and powerful and very cheap considering the prices some players have been going for this summer!.

Ian, That’s the exact ’over-hyping’ I’m refering to...

It was an underage championship against underage players. Not the Premier League.

In response:

Ciarán — We have needed better quality in the DCM position for years but have always had players more than capable of filling this role, which in my opinion is the easiest to role on the field, only recently becoming glorified. Playing five in midfield, with the addition of an extra creative midfielder (as previously stated right, left or centre) would simply mean we have the added option of playing two of either Pienaar, Arteta, Osman or said new signing in wide areas and one of the four in the centre as a creative lynchpin alongside the holding midfielder, hence always leaving another position for the Fellaini/Cahill type.

For me at least, an improvement on merely having the option of three players to play the holding role. But hey, although this would be my priority, if we have the funds wouldn’t we all like to see both positions strengthend?

Aidy Dews — Neville is our captain and while his footballing ability is limited, he is a leader; with the exception of Jagielka, no other player in our ranks cuts such a figure and voice of respect. Hence, be it at right back or the midfield ’donkey’ role, Moyes will find him a place, and I think he requires a place.

Furthermore, as we currently look like signing a RB, for me it would make little sense in strengthening the DCM position just yet (if funds are limited). I would prefer a more creative alternative.

Plus Aidy, as pointed out by Ian, coming deep to pick up posession off the defence and spraying short simple passes along with breaking up play is exactly what is required of the DCM. He needs not to escape his marker, but make sure his opponent is marked.

Whilst not wishing to ’over-hype’ the one game, he has played a significant amount of time for the U21s; was a MotM performance in this position. Therefore, those casting a critical eye must be disagreeing on the fact he cannot play this role.

Future centre-half, no doubt, but if his progression is to be continued he will not recieve playing time in this position, at this level, as youth has a tendancy to increase mistakes — somthing all too costly for a centre half learning the trade. Increasing competition for the holding midfield role would reduce his time on the pitch even more and risk stunting his development.

It may be the most simple role on the pitch if you expect nothing other than sideways passes from your DM and no offensive threat.

It becomes a little more complicated whenever you can get a player who can also get forward with great effectiveness and compliment the attacking threat. That's, in my opinion, what we should be striving for from this position. Not just the simple passes... but more.

Let me ask you this: if we sign this Naughton character and he’s good enough to take Hibbert's place... and we also sign someone like Cana... What exactly would you do with Neville then? Do you sacrifice your best starting Eleven for an ineffective player whose main attraction is what he offers in terms of captaincy? Or do you go with the best eleven and pick a captain based on the fact that he’s in the footballing side on merit?

Personally, I think Arteta relished the role when he was given it last year...

I'm with you Ciaran, we need something more than just someone who’s going to win the ball and give it sideways, we need someone who’s going to win the ball and drive forward with it and start attacks instead of just giving it simple to the back four and letting them hoof it up field!.

I'm not even sure Neville does a good job there, in fact im certain he isnt capable of that, certainly against lesser teams maybe, but against good opposition he’s shite and as for leadership skills, yeah maybe he is a good captain, but is it only me who thinks that he aint that great really?, iI mean you dont see him rallying the side and having a go and clapping his hands and trying to get spirits up when the going gets tough like in the cup final, you look at the likes of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry and even redshite shithouse Gerrard, there proper captains, they rally the side and pull em through when things are going against em and for me Neville just isnt going to be like that ever is he? I

mean those players ive mentioned above are well respected and looked up to at there clubs and are in the catagory of being one of the best players at there clubs too, now fair enough, Neville might be well respected but honestly, do the rest of are squad look up to him and feel inspired to play with him as captain because lets be honest, he aint one of the best players in squad is he who will drive the team on, IMHO he only got the captaincy because of what he achieved and won and the experience he got whilst at United!.

1) It does become more difficult I concur, but for me a DCM in the mould of Rodwell for instance could offer an attacking threat from set pieces and with mid-to-long range passes out to the wings, opening up play. Thus, it remains the easiest role in positional terms but one in which those with a greater technical ability can take to another level. That is not to say that those with lesser footballing ability such as Neville cannot compete by simply braking up play, keeping things simple and maximizing the vantage point this position offers to bark out orders.

2) The question you ask in relation to the potential signings of both Naughton and Cana leaves out a crucial point, Neville in my opinion is still a better right back than Naughton and Hibbert so it would not be where does Neville go but Hibbert, whom I can see settling for a bit-part role with minimal fuss (and if not we try to recoup some Naughton fee by selling TH).

However whether you agree with regards to Neville or not, we must be realistic, can you see Moyes removing him from the starting eleven altogether at this time? I can’t myself. so therefore it looks inevitable he will compete with Rodwell for the DCM adding further substance to the suggestion our next signing (again, if funds are tight) should be a more creative and positonally versitle proposition than Cana (despite the fact he is an excellent player)

3) Arteta is simply not captain material in my opinion, and would take; Cahill, Jags, Lescott (if he stays) and even Yobo (does it for Nigeria despite not being the most vocal) over him, but as stated previously we are not blessed in this area. That’s why Neville’s role remains significant.

This is an interesting debate, but I’m more inclined to agree with Ismael here. Our priority is strengthening full back and right midfield. So if Moyes signs Naughton, that’s a great start to the summer.

But Neville was consistent last season, and one of our best players, because of that consistency. Replacing him is a matter, but it’s not an urgency, we should not be that worried if Neville still plays there next season, because he does the job of a defensive midfielder and is a great captain. Obviously if we had the money, I’d definitely have Cana in, but ONLY if we guarantee to get a winger and a full back too.

With regards to Aidy’s comments, I think you’re a bit over critical of Neville. He is a great captain, not for his ability, but for his leadership, which is fine, because that’s the job of a captain. You don’t think he drives the team on? I always see him shouting and remember that tackle he did on Ronaldo? That tackle not only gave us momentum for the team, but some people have argued for the whole season... that’s blown your comment way out of proportion.

Basically if I had the choice, I’d have Naughton, a winger and Cana, but I’m not gonna be angry if I see Neville playing holding midfield for us next season.

Personally I’d always want our best eleven out on the pitch... although Neville undoubtedly has some leadership skills, I don’t think the extent he shows them on the pitch would elevate him to our best eleven. He could surely have the same input from the sidelines..

And I don’t agree with your assertion of Naughton — he’s a hell of a lot better than Neville. If we get him, he’ll start after a few games.

I’m just wondering how long these things take? He’s either been allowed to talk to us or he hasn’t, I’m not even sure which now! Has he spoken to Tottenham? Have we sucumbed and matched their "gazumping" bid?

I think that if a club accept an offer from another then it should be in writing and be legally binding, then, that little shit from Sheffield Utd who was on telly spouting how it’s a great deal for the club and the player (our offer), would soon be getting butt fucked by Mr Big of "B" wing in Armley nick... which is no more than he deserves!

ps: It STILL shows on the official Sheffield Utd website that they’ve agreed with Everton over a deal for Naughton.... I hope Mr Big gives it to that little shit BIG time!

In the time it takes Everton to book a taxi for Kyle Naughton to face David "Meet The Parents human lie detector" Moyes's one-on-one interrogation, Villa have agreed terms and had someone who is out injured until November, pass a medical and sign for them.

Admittedly it’s only Stuart Downing but you get my point......

Behave, you divvy, Downing has not passed a medical, he can’t walk without crutches, you fool. All he has done is agree terms, when speaking to just one party, not difficult. Plus, how do you know the length of time that talks with Villa had been taking place?

Ismael: You best get onto Villa and tell them to amend their website then as they are saying he signed a four-year deal after passing a medical. Fool.

And I’ve no idea how long their discussions took, I was merely trying to make a point that we seem to drag our feet compared to other teams.

I’ve personally had both a military and formal health medical. If you mean ’passing a medical’ i.e. a tap of the old reflexes and taking of the pulse, urine sample etc., because this is all Downing will have recieved, then he has not passed a proper medical as he is clearly unfit to complete. It is well known that a full medical can take one,two or even three whole days to complete and cannot be fulfilled by shuffling about on crutches.

The hold up is more to do with the fact that Tottenham have come in with a higher offer and Sheffield Utd have fucked us around.

The only thing that worries me is all week we’ve heard how Naughton wants to sign for us and now the reports are saying he’s signing for Spurs. Does anyone know if Moyes actually got to meet up with him? And if so, what the hell did he say that made him want to sign for Spurs?

There’s STILL no update on the Sheffield United site beyond "have agreed a deal with Everton etc etc"......mind you that’s dated Friday 10th July...Hmmmmmm!