It's an outrageous fee, but that's a very good point, Fred. In the context of trying to win the league, there's no doubt that Hargreaves (a capable and tidy player) will add more to their push than either O'Shea or Fletcher, imo. I also think the free money they got from the Mikel/Chelsea debacle must be taken into account when looking at the money they've paid out on Carrick. The time to buy is when you're strong, and with ManUtd sitting pretty at the top of the league, and Ferguson getting no younger, I can understand why they're going gung-ho on this one.