i do agree with you strange how that french bloke (can't remeber his name) never picked him, yet he is probably the most important player in the team since jol took charge.

Hope he comes to us though he can replace keane, as smith has done well but is a striker not a midfielder.

Man Utd agree price for Carrick

Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick is set to join Manchester United on Monday after the clubs agreed a fee for the 25-year-old midfielder.
A statement read: "Manchester United and Tottenham can confirm that they have agreed terms for the transfer.

"The transfer is conditional upon the player agreeing personal terms and he will also be required to pass a medical that will take place on Monday."

The fee has not been disclosed but is believed to be close to £15m.

Carrick had two years left on his deal at White Hart Lane, but had rejected a new contract offer in the wake of United's persistent interest.

"This is a move that Michael wants to make," Spurs boss Martin Jol told the club's official website.

"We have given him every reason to stay, but he has asked to be allowed to leave."

The sale of Carrick represents a massive profit for Spurs, who signed him from West Ham for £2.75m two years ago.

West Ham are reported to be in for a windfall when the transfer goes through, with a sell-on clause included as part of the deal which took him to White Hart Lane.

Carrick is expected to make his first United appearance in the Amsterdam tournament, probably against Porto on Friday.

The midfielder has won seven England caps, making his debut when coming on as a substitute against Mexico in 2001.

He was part of England's World Cup squad but made just one appearance in Germany, in the 1-0 win over Ecuador in the first game of the knockout stages.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson stepped up his pursuit of Carrick once it became clear that the transfer of United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid for a reported £10.2m would go through.

However, Ferguson denied reports that he is also keen to sign Carrick's Tottenham team-mate Jermain Defoe.

"There has not been any interest from us," said Ferguson.

As far as the Tottenham situation is concerned, we made a move for Michael Carrick - but that is all we did.

"He is the only Tottenham player we are interested in at the moment and I think it will stay that way."

Jol's determination to hold out for a fee which closely matched their £20m valuation of the player has given them more transfer cash to spend.

Jol has already signed 22-year-old Benoit Assou-Ekotto from Lens and spent £10.9m on Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov but missed out on Chelsea's left-winger Damien Duff.

The summer signing of Ivory Coast international Didier Zokora will make Carrick's departure somewhat less painful for Jol, who can now continue his search for a left-sided midfielder in earnest.

you guys have got yourself a great player, but you paid over the odds for a guy who wont entirely solve your midfield problems