United Target Andre Ayew “Delighted” & “Speechless” At Interest #manutd #mufc + Video

While some players feel transfer rumours are an irritating distraction which can damage their on-field performances, Andre Ayew, the Marseille winger/striker has told of how "fantastic" it is to see his name linked to big clubs in newspapers. Manchester United and Barcelona - the two 2011 Champions League finalists have been said to be following the 21 year-old, and the Ghanian did not attempt to hide his amazement:

"It is fantastic to hear these stories, even if it's just through newspapers."

"I am delighted to be linked with two powerhouses of world football. It means I have improved.

"I have not got a favourite, I am just speechless!"

"It would be a dream to join one of them, but I am living the dream here with Marseille as well and also looking forward to a strong finish to the season."

After an impressive World Cup for Ghana, Ayew has had a very good season with his club, Marseille, scoring 10 goals and assisting 2 in the French Ligue 1. He was unable to grab a goal against Manchester United however, when he played against them for Marseille in this years Champions League, with a Javier Hernandez double sealing a United victory in that tie.

Despite his understandable enthusiasm to being linked with two of the best teams in Europe, he was obliged to emphasise his love of playing where he is now, at Marseille, describing it as a "dream":

"Do not forget last season, I was playing at Arles Avignon in the second division."

"The World Cup has made me realise my potential. It is a dream to play for Marseille and I love every minute of it."

Manchester United are not said to have made a move for the player, but Barcelona are reported to be preparing an £8 million bid for the versatile winger. Below you can see some highlights of Andre Ayew:

Video: Best Moments Of Ayew with Ghana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgADHrXeQ94&feature=player_embedded

United Chiefs Attempt To Thrash Out Deal For £12m Keeper #mufc #manutd

The Sun reports that United chiefs will fly to Lisbon this weekend in order to finalise a deal for Rui Patricio. United are desperate to land a replacement keeper for the retiring Edwin van der Sar and have been linked with a variety of keepers across Europe.

But with a deal for their 1st choice keeper Atletico's David De Gea stumbling, United have turned their attention to Sporting Lisbon No1, Patricio.

The 23-year old has made 167 appearance for his club and has a £12million valuation, which is significantly more than what United are prepared to pay, who have already had a £7milllion bid rejected

Ancelotti - Rooney over Messi #mufc #manutd

Chelsea boss prefers English star to Argentine ace

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he would rather have Wayne Rooney than Lionel Messi.

The Barcelona star is widely regarded as the best player in the world, but Ancelotti has a different opinion.

The Blues chief, though, feels Rooney offers more to a team and he would take the Manchester United forward if offeredthe choice.

"Everyone goes for Messi but I would take Rooney"
Carlo Ancelotti

"Everyone goes for Messi but I would take Rooney," he told theDaily Mail.

"Messi is out of this world and maybe he is reaching the level of Maradona.

"Rooney, however, is closer to the reality of football. He puts his talent out to the rest of the team and this explains the difference between players and outstanding players."

Ancelotti comes up against Rooney on Sunday as Chelsea face United at Old Trafford and he insists he will not be man-marking the England star.

"We want to play our football, not just control their skills and ability. Rooney is the key player for United, and the last time against us Ryan Giggs was the best player. He passed three balls and they scored three goals," he added.

Udinese want at least £26m for Man Utd Target Alexis Sanchez #manutd #mufc

Alexis Sanchez - Udinese

The Chilean attacker has three further years on his contract and the club's owner warns potential bidders that he will not be bullied into a sale below the player's market value

Udinese will demand upwards of €30 million (£26.2m) for their star attacker Alexis Sanchez this summer.

The 22-year-old Chilean is on the radar of Europe's top clubs with Inter, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all interested. However, as one of the world's most promising talents, he will not be sold below his market valuation.

A Udinese source said, "[Club owner] Giampaolo Pozzo will not make any discounts on him. The valuation is fixed at €30 million and that's what it will take to land him."

Udinese rejected a bid from Inter in the January transfer window and their valuation of the player could limit offers over the summer.

"To be honest, I cannot see [Manchester] City or [Manchester] United as ready to spend such an amount. Chelsea are also there, but I think Udinese's demands will be difficult to meet," the source continued. 

"Also, Sanchez has a long contract there and he is young. The feeling is he will stay in Italy for at least another season."

Sanchez, under contract at Stadio Friuli until June 2014, is expected to make his return from injury in Sunday's home fixture against Lazio - a game which could see Francesco Guidolin's side move into fourth place. 

Should they remain in the Champions League places, Udinese are optimistic of keeping hold of their most valuable asset. 

The source concluded, "Pozzo has always said if Udinese make the Champions League then Sanchez will not move."

Sir Alex hails referee Howard Webb - but still fears poor decision

Sir Alex Ferguson admits Howard Webb is the best referee in England, but is still concerned about his side finding themselves on the wrong end of a major decision this weekend.

Ferguson received a five-match ban for his attack on Martin Atkinson over his handling of the first Premier League game between United and Chelsea in March.

In a game which the United boss felt triggered Chelsea's impressive recent form, Atkinson did not spot a foul by David Luiz that should have brought the Brazilian's dismissal, then awarded the Blues a debatable penalty for Chris Smalling's foul on Yury Zhirkov.

It forms part of what Ferguson feels is a catalogue of key calls that have gone against his team, even though there are a number of examples of United benefiting.

One such occurrence came in January, when Liverpool's Ryan Babel posted a mocked-up picture of Webb on Twitter after an FA Cup third round tie at Old Trafford when the World Cup final referee awarded United a penalty and sent off Steven Gerrard.

"We are getting the best referee, there is no doubt about that," Ferguson said. "But (getting a bad decision) is definitely our big fear.

"We have the players to do it all right. We just hope it's our turn for a little bit of luck."

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti: I would Pick Rooney Over Messi

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has today claimed that if he had the choice, he would prefer to have Wayne Rooney in his team than Lionel Messi.

For whatever reason, the Italians seem to be massive admirers of our striker, with the 2009 Champions League final billed as the 'best player in the world vs most complete player'.

"Everyone goes for Messi but I would take Rooney," he said. "Messi is out of this world and maybe he is reaching the level of Maradona. Rooney, however, is closer to the reality of football. He puts his talent out to the rest of the team and this explains the difference between players and outstanding players."

Looking ahead to the game on Sunday, Ancelotti told the press he wouldn't be man marking Rooney and would have to pay attention to Ryan Giggs.

"We want to play our football, not just control their skills and ability," he added. "Rooney is the key player for United, and the last time against us Ryan Giggs was the best player. He passed three balls and they scored three goals."

Video: Man Utd vs Chelsea - The Last Battle [HD]

Scholes: Fergie is Master In Mind Games, Dnt play with him

Paul Scholes has admitted Sir Alex Ferguson's famed mind games are a major help during the Premier League title run-in.

Ferguson has never been afraid of courting controversy, most famously in 1996 when he wound then Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan up so much he exploded in frustration during a live TV interview.

He has been more subtle this week, claiming he fears a referee's decision might go against United in their do-or-die encounter with nearest challengers Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Scholes has seen it all before.

The 36-year-old is hoping to take his collection to 10 winners' medals, leaving him behind only Ryan Giggs in the all-time list, this season.

And he believes Ferguson's interventions can have a positive influence.

"He has had some famous run-ins with other managers down the years," Scholes told Inside United.

"Whether there's anybody to do that with this year, I am not too sure.

"But he is great as a calming influence on us. Coming towards the end of the season, there is no better manager to have.

"He has been through this, competing for the title, for nearly 20 years now, so he knows what he wants to do and he will get that across to us."

There is an additional determination amongst the United players due to the fact they lost out on an unprecedented fourth successive championship to Chelsea by a single point last season.

"We were just as hungry last year but it is not nice when you see others teams celebrating," said Scholes.

"We want to make sure it's us this year."

Busby Babe Eddie Lewis dies :-(

Eddie Lewis, the former Busby Babe who played 24 times for United between 1952-55, died in Johannesburg on Monday, aged 76, after a long battle with cancer.

His memorial service was held today in his adopted city.

Only last week Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton called Lewis to wish him a speedy recovery.

Lewis was a Manchester lad who played for Manchester Boys in 1948 alongside future United star Dennis Viollet.

"Eddie was a bubbly character and an astute, clever forward who was destined to make it as a footballer," recalls Eric Mallender, a Manchester City scout who was a team-mate at Manchester Boys.

Lewis featured in United's first FA Youth Cup winning side of 1953.  By that time he'd already been promoted to the first team and enjoyed a dream start in November 1952, aged just 17.  

He scored seven minutes into his debut at West Brom although three Albion goals in the second half spoiled the day a little. But Lewis went on to score nine goals in 11 games in his first season.

The arrival of Tommy Taylor from Barnsley limited his first-team chances and with competition from Charlton, Viollet and Liam Whlean, Lewis joined Preston for £10,000 in December 1955. 

He stayed at Deepdale for less than a year before moving to West Ham, scoring 15 goals in 36 appearances to help the Hammers win promotion to Division One. 

Career 

He then moved to Leyton Orient, where he enjoyed a six-year spell where he switched to full-back and helped them reach the First Division for the first time in 1962. He later played and managed in non-League football.

Emigrating to South Africa in 1970, he sold insurance before enjoying a successful coaching career with Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Wits University, Highlands Park and others. 

"He was my coach at Wits and responsible for me getting into professional football," said former Reds keeper Gary Bailey. 

"He was delighted that it was at Manchester United because he never stopped talking about United. 

"He always told me that his greatest moments in football were playing with the Busby Babes and it hurt him badly when he left for Preston. He then had his heart broken when he lost many of his friends in the Munich air disaster."

Bailey worked with Lewis in TV, where he had a reputation for forthright opinions delivered in a pronounced Mancunian accent. 

"Eddie became an important figure in the history of South African football as a coach, and at a challenging time," said Ian Hawkey, author of Feet Of The Chameleon: The History Of African Football. 

"He was popular with fans of all colours and did his bit to break down barriers imposed on the sport by Apartheid by committing himself to football in the townships in the 1970s."

Ignoring Apartheid laws, Lewis coached a white team (Wits) and a black team (Chiefs). 

"We trained next to each other and he'd take one session after another," recalls Bailey. "The police didn't like a white man coaching a black team and came to have a word. We thought Eddie would get in trouble, but he was very firm as he told the police officer: 'I'm a football man, not a political man. I see footballers, not the colour of their skin'." 

Inter Milan Ace Sneijder Desperately Want United Move

Welcome Sneijder

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder wants a move to Manchester United.

The People says sources close to him say the midfielder with an explosive shot is now ready for a fresh challenge – with Old Trafford his No.1 destination.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is also keen on the Dutchman – and the billionaires at Eastlands will not be scared off by the price.Inter are said to want £35m for the star – even though they only paid Real £16m for his services two years ago.

Sneijder is reportedly on an annual salary of £10m and would want a five-year contract – a huge £85m investment that would test the commitment of United owners, the Glazer family.

Sneijder has the pedigree United want, but the outlay is massive – and that may leave the field clear for City.