Man Utd Ready to bid £46 for Ibrahimovic

With David Villa having signed for Barcelona, Spanish daily ‘Sport’ claims that Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be sold for around 50 million Euros to either Manchester United or Manchester City .

Villa’s move to the Nou Camp from Valencia was confirmed yesterday and the striker is expected to be an automatic first choice striker at the Nou Camp, having consistently been one of Spain’s top scorers over the past few seasons.

The move brings into question the future of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Barcelona. On paper, Ibrahimovic has enjoyed a good first season in Spain, scoring 20 goals in 41 appearances for Barcelona since his high profile move from Inter Milan last summer. However, his performances have been criticised by the notoriously 

 harsh Spanish media.

‘Sport’ speculates that Ibrahimovic wants to stay and prove himself at Barcelona and that the club are happy for him to do so, unless they receive a bid of around 50 million Euros, with the Manchester clubs in prime position. Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini knows Ibrahimovic well from his time at Inter Milan and is assumed to be looking to boost his attacking options. Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson will likely look to add some firepower in order to relieve Wayne Rooney of the goalscoring burden at Manchester United .

Both sides are rumoured to be looking to offload strikers this summer, possibly making further room for Ibrahimovic. Dimitar Berbatov’s future at Manchester United has been in doubt for some time, while Craig Bellamy has been linked with an Eastlands exit as he apparently does not see eye to eye with Mancini. (IMScouting)

Daniele De Rossi moving to Old Trafford for £38million

Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly weighing up a potential big money bid for Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi this summer. The Manchester United boss will have seen that local rivals City have been strongly linked with the battling Italian and the Old Trafford manager knows that he could well do with a bit of steel in his midfield and may make a move for the 26 year old.

Having seen Owen Hargreaves return from injury but still not convinced the England international will have returned a different player to the one he invested a great deal of time and money chasing, Ferguson has been looking for players to play in the centre of his Man United midfield.

With Paul Scholes nearing the end of his glittering career, and with Anderson and Michael Carrick both coming off the back of very average campaigns, the club could do with a new addition and De Rossi is a top quality player who is in many ways two types of players in one.

Never afraid to put in a tackle, but fortunately more able to do so successfully than Scholes, the Rome born man is also able to steer his side towards goal and has the ability to score his fair share of crucial corkers. The valuation of the World Cup bound De Rossi could however be something of a problem. Roma are reportedly pricing their player at a rather inflated £38m which could well scare off any interest in the player, which may well be Claudio Ranieri’s intention.

Fergie has last chance to move Spanish ace to Old Trafford

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to take on Real Madrid in the race to sign Valencia midfielder David Silva. Real Madrid were reportedly close to a deal for the Spanish international but it emerged yesterday evening that Ferguson is considering launching an offer to tempt the player to Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old is ready to quit Valencia and challenge for major European honours with the wideman being linked with Chelsea, Barcelona, and Liverpool in the past few months, however Real Madrid and Manchester United are now considered the front – runners to land the tricky winger. 

Real Madrid made contact with Valencia last week regarding the availability of Silva with the Spanish media reporting that Madrid chiefs would secure a deal in the coming weeks, however reports this morning suggest that the door is still open for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to make an approach. Fergie is a keen admirer of Silva and has tracked him for the last year, but Ferguson has warned that he will not pay over the odds for player’s in the transfer market, and admitted he was only looking at making one addition to the Red Devils squad.

Sergio Aguero priced at £52m

Hot shot: Atletico striker Sergio Aguero (left) scored in Argentina's 5-0 win over Canada on Monday

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo expects star striker Sergio Aguero to be at the club next season despite continual transfer speculation surrounding the Argentinian. 

Most of Europe's top clubs have been linked with Aguero over the last year or so, most notably Chelsea and Manchester clubs United and City, but Atletico have managed to keep hold of their prized asset, whose contract buy-out clause is £52m.   

There is sure to be more rumours about the 21-year-old this summer, but Cerezo is optimistic the former Independiente player will still be with the Europa League champions next term.   

'He has a contract with us, we want him to stay and he is happy here. Only if someone comes in to pay his buy-out clause would we then have to see what he decides...I would be surprised if he wasn't here next season,' said Cerezo on his club's website.   

He added: 'It's not in our plans to sell any player who is important to us.'

Sebastian Frey might join Manchester United

The French goalkeeper was part of the side that navigated their way to the second round of theUEFA Champions League this season, however their success in Europe has not been matched domestically this time round, with the club finishing 11th after a fourth place finish last season in Serie A.

Despite not winning proper international recognition for his exploits between the sticks that have spanned over 10 years in Italy with spells at Inter, Verona and Parma , the 30-year-old may finally move away from the country, with Arsenal, Manchester United andJuventus touted as possible destinations.

"I have spoken with Diego Della Valle (Fiorentina's owner) about my future," he toldGazzetta dello Sport.

"I will speak again with him after the holidays.

"I have a contract until 2013 but sometimes in life, new motivations are necessary.

Real Madrid Sign Benfica Winger Angel Di Maria For €40 Million

Real Madrid have put pen to paper on a €40 million deal for Benfica winger Angel di Maria, according to radio station TSF.

The Argentina international has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu after an impressive season at Benfica, both in domestic competitions and in the Europa League.

Reports of an impending switch to the Spanish capital club by Di Maria have intensified after Inter boss Jose Mourinho, who is an admirer of the 22-year-old, became the red hot favourite to assume the reins of the Merengues.

The Portuguese radio station claims that, after signing Di Maria, Real will now put their focus on Benfica colleagueDavid Luiz, for whom negotiations are believed to be at an advanced stage already.

TSF also state that Benfica could receive a player from Real Madrid in return, with centre-back Ezequiel Garay and winger Royston Drenthe both on the table.

Sir Alex Ferguson are you going to buy a single player or not??

Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his concern and frustration with the current transfer market, quietening noises that United may spend big during the summer.

Ferguson believes that bringing through more young players and investing in the squad's future is a more pressing concern and suggested that the Red Devils will potentially be targeting just one new signing in addition to the confirmed deals for Fulham's Chris Smalling and Mexican Javier Hernandez.

"In the market today it's very, very difficult and the structure of our squad is good in terms of ages, the balance, the numbers and there's a lot of good young players," Ferguson said, as quoted by the Press Association.

"Sometimes you have to trust in all the development of the last few years and I'm going to stick with that, or most of it.

"There may be one signing and maybe we'd like to get a good player to the club, of course, but it's not easy in the present day climate and I've nothing definite to tell you because we're still assessing whoever's available and the difficulties in terms of who you'd bring in."

United’s chief executive David Gill, also present with Ferguson in New York to promote the club's four-game North American tour, was keen to mirror Ferguson’s sentiments.

"Hernandez and Smalling are signings we've already made and the other point to bear in mind is that the Premier League is bringing in squad limits next year of 25," Gill said.

"There will be unlimited Under-21s and other rules and we'll be taking all that into consideration."

With goalkeeper Ben Foster on his way to Birmingham City, United boss Ferguson was quick to claim that young England Under-21 goalkeeper Ben Amos will now be third choice at Old Trafford.

"When we decided to let Ben [Foster] go, we were in the process of letting a good young goalkeeper, Ben Amos, go out on loan," Ferguson continued.

"He's in the England Under-21 team but we can only accommodate three goalkeepers. So when the situation with Ben's future at Manchester United came into it and we agreed to let him go, we stopped Ben Amos from going on loan.

"He will now be our third goalkeeper, he's very talented and has a good future ahead of him."

Javier Hernandez, signed from Mexican outfit Guadalajara, is set to feature at this summer's World Cup and asked whether he would play a part in a pre-season fixture against his former club, Ferguson insisted it would depend solely on Mexico's progress in South Africa.

"It depends when his last game is for Mexico," Ferguson went on.

"Normally we give the players 28 days' rest but in the case of Hernandez we'll bring him to Philadelphia as soon as his games with Mexico are finished.

Stephen Ireland to quit City Soon

Manchester City are to listen to offers for Stephen Ireland following the midfielder's decision to submit a verbal transfer request at Eastlands.

Ireland, 23, has informed manager Roberto Mancini and City's football administrator Brian Marwood that he wishes to leave the club after losing his regular first-team spot.

The former Republic of Ireland international is just 12 months into a five-year contract at City, but the Cork-born midfielder failed to repeat his impressive form of last season.

Mancini left Ireland out of their team on numerous occasions last term.

While Mancini is keen to retain Ireland, the Italian has assured him that he will respect his desire to leave should the club receive a suitable offer, likely to be about £10 million.

A part-exchange deal involving James Milner could emerge should Aston Villa reject any advance on City's £20 million offer.

Villa or even Sunderland appear a more likely detsination for Ireland even though Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is an admirer.

A City source said: “It has been a difficult year for Stephen and he feels that he needs a move to refresh his career.”

Manchester City are also understood to be chasing Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta.

However, the Everton star is also a target for Arsenal and Manchester United.

There is little love lost between Everton manager David Moyes and Mancini following their touchline clash last season and Moyes will be determined to keep hold of the Spanish playmaker.

Arsenal’s interest in the player is expected to grow if they lose captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, who have tabled a £30million bid for the midfielder.

Rodwell said no to Manchester United

Jack Rodwell snubbed Manchester United because he feels he has a better chance of realising his England dream with Everton.

The Under-21 star has ignored interest from United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal to pledge his future to Everton by signing a new five-year deal.

Rodwell, 19, knows he might have been swapping his starting place at Everton for a place on the bench at Old Trafford if he had followed Wayne Rooney down the M62 and claims Goodison Park is the best place for him to fulfil his England ambitions.

The midfielder, who made 36 appearances last season, has seen Leighton Baines develop into a full international at Everton and believes he can follow him into Fabio Capello's senior side.

David Silva not going to Manchester United

Real Madrid have launched their bid to prise David Silva away Valencia.

Radio Cadena Ser says no official has been made for the Spain international, but Real have contacted Valencia president Manuel Llorente to register their interest.

Real are setting the groundwork to sign Silva ahead of rivals Manchester United and Barcelona.

Wayne Rooney Is Fit :Fabio Capello

Wayne Rooney

Rooney, who has been hampered by ankle and groin problems in recent weeks, suffered the neck injury towards the end of England's Wembley farewell before the World Cup.

The Manchester United striker was forced to play on for the closing moments of the friendly as England coach Capello had used all six of his substitutes.

However, the Italian was quick to dismiss any fears the problem could impact on the World Cup campaign and is now looking for Rooney to hit top form.

"He said he had a small problem in his neck, but it is not a problem," said Capello.

"He wanted to come off for the last two minutes, but I had made all the substitutions so it was impossible to change.

"Rooney is okay. At this moment he just needs to play and find his form."

And Rooney also shrugged off any worries about his fitness ahead of England's final World Cup warm-up game against Japan on Sunday.

Aguero will join Manchester United for €60M

Atletico Madrid president Cerezo: Aguero can leave - for €60M

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has referred any club keen on Sergio Aguero to the striker's buyout clause.

Argentina international Aguero is wanted by Europe's biggest, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Cerezo said last night: "I do not think Aguero will leave us. I have not received any offers yet, and if ever I did sell, it not be for less than his get out clause of €60 million."