There are unconfirmed reports that United’s 17 year old striker Dexter Blackstock, as sponsored by Rage On, has been signed by Southampton, with yesterday’s Guardian suggesting that a fee of ?200,000 had been agreed. Neither club’s official web site mentions this and it is possible that the newspaper is being a bit previous in its reporting.

If Dexter does go, and it’s looking increasingly likely that United will find it difficult to hold onto him, the one positive note is that the money received should allow Ian Atkins to sign Jon Ashton. It’s not a trade-off that United supporters would want to make, but sometimes you just have to make a compromise. The big dilemma is who we would sponsor instead of Blackstock. Let’s hope it’s a decision that we don’t have to make.

Two moves that did happen over the last couple of days involved two former United loanees. Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard, who many rate as one of the best ‘keepers ever to play for the Us, has joined Sheffield United on loan until November, and Carlisle defender Lee Maddison has signed a deal that takes him to Scottish side Gretna until June 2006.