Hargreaves impressed Fergie even before the WC

(And so ManYoo is still struggling to have Hargreaves in their possession, despite their offer of £34 to Bayern Munich. The latter is still firm that they're not willing to let go of the player until his contract ends with them in 2010. Poor boy.)

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he has been trying to bring Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United since before the World Cup, but that the club are still some distance from a deal with Bayern Munich for the midfielder.

'We first inquired about Owen before the World Cup,' Ferguson said. The midfielder, who started the tournament as an unpopular figure among England fans, became one of his country's few successes in Germany. He earned a standing ovation in the quarter-final against Portugal and then converted his penalty in the shootout - the only one of his team to do so. The plaudits left Ferguson worried that Bayern would force up the price or that a bidding war might occur. 'What he did in the tournament was a nightmare,' the United manager said. 'I knew it would happen - it happens all the time.'

With the transfer window closing on 31 August, there is a danger that with Bayern standing firm it will be impossible to conclude a move. 'The boy wants to come,' Ferguson said, 'so we hope to be able to do something.' However, Bayern have already lost Michael Ballack to Chelsea this summer and are adamant that they cannot let their midfield be weakened any further.

Hargreaves, who is due to play for Bayern at Bochum today, was named man of the match at Old Trafford on Wednesday after England's 4-0 friendly win over Greece, emphasising all the discipline and defensive qualities that Ferguson finds so attractive. He has also impressed John O'Shea, a potential team-mate at United. 'Owen would be a good addition,' O'Shea said. 'There were lots of question marks around him before the World Cup, but he showed in Germany what a quality player he is.'

From Guardian Unlimited Football