Papers: Elm move hint

01/12/2011 09:21

The Mirror writes…

Elm hints at possible United move

Sweden midfielder Rasmus Elm says he is flattered by links with Manchester United as rumours continue that the champions may move for him in January. The AZ Alkmaar wide man caught the eye in his country's defeat at Wembley recently, with Joe Hart having to beat away a clever corner. Elm, 23, said: "You have to take rumours for what they are, but it is obviously flattering if there is some truth in it. I don't close the door to any league. But the most important thing is to develop here and do as well as I can in Holland." Elm would be a possible replacement for Antonio Valencia, who has slipped behind Ashley Young and Nani in the Old Trafford pecking order. United's midfiield has been a cause for concern this season, and Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a host of players in the absence of injured Tom Cleverley and Anderson. But, last week, he appeared to rule out buying in the upcoming transfer window, saying: "It is easy to say you are going to buy players but it is not easy to buy them for Manchester United, especially in January," he said. "I do not see anyone who could make us a better team. There are two or three players but they are not available, so there is no point even going there."

Several newspapers suggest Mark Hughes is in the frame to replace former United team-mate Steve Bruce at Sunderland with the suggestion that he could even hold talks on Wearside as early as today.

The Daily Mail believe City are growing increasingly confident that they can lure  from Old Trafford. The Frenchman came off the bench in the disappointing Carling Cup exit to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

source : Manutd

Papers: Reds eye Italian

28/11/2011 09:45

The Daily Mail writes…

United on list of admirers for striker Gabbiadini

Manchester United are monitoring Atalanta's teenage striker Manolo Gabbiadini. Sir Alex Ferguson is mulling over a £9million bid for the 19-year-old, who has scored 10 goals in 13 games for Italy's Under 21 side. Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen are expected to leave Old Trafford in the summer, and the departures of the experienced duo could leave space open in the squad for another promising youngster. If he decides to make a move, Ferguson could face competition from Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan for Gabbiadini's signature. Although he has so far failed to live up to his international goal-scoring record at club level, Gabbiadini's powerful physique looks to make him ideal for the Barclays Premier League.

There is widespread coverage of Wales manager Gary Speed’s death, with several papers featuring Ryan Giggs’ statement, first published on ManUtd.com on Sunday afternoon.

Most of the major daily newspapers run a story claiming Sir Alex will avoid an FA ban following comments made about a linesman in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle.

The Sun quotes Sir Alex’s United Review column in which the Reds boss states he is not in favour of a Great Britain Olympic football team.

source : Manutd

Papers: Vidic warns City

21/11/2011 10:13

Neil Moxley writes in the Daily Mail...

Vidic: Title far from over

Nemanja Vidic has warned Manchester City that their champagne football will stop flowing as the current Premier League champions turned a blind eye to their title rivals. Manchester United’s centre-half and his team-mates stood firm as Javier Hernandez’s typically-predatory first-half strike capped a workmanlike and effective showing in south Wales against Swansea. This was in contrast to another three-goal haul for Roberto Mancini’s men at the Etihad Stadium but from men of such experience as the Serbian defender, there was certainly no panic."We will think about what they are going to do," said the defender, "but only if they are five points ahead of us with six games to go. You can see what I mean from last year. In the first seven or eight games Chelsea played unbelievably. But there was also a time when everything is not going well. It’s a ten-month season and you can’t always play great football. There will be good days and bad days but you have to play as a team. For that reason, we aren’t thinking about them."

Also in the Daily Mail, Patrice Evra is said to be doubtful for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Benfica after coming down with a virus. The Reds' left-back was substituted in the 51st minute of the 1-0 win at Swansea on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney, who featured in midfield again at Swansea, is quoted in The Sun saying he's happy to play anywhere for the team - except right-back. "I love it. I don't care where I play," he says. "I'm just happy to be on the pitch, I'll play anywhere. "Well, probably not right-back. But midfield is a role where you can get on the ball and influence the game."

There's a piece in the Independent questioning what an 'assist' is, but nevertheless pointing out that Ryan Giggs notched his 121st in the Premier League at the Liberty Stadium, extending his lead to 33 over Frank Lampard.

And there's plenty of coverage of David Beckham's fairytale end to his five-year spell in the USA. The former Reds midfielder helped LA Galaxy win the MLS title on Sunday.

source : Manutd

Papers: Asamoah tracked

 The Daily Mail writes...

Manchester United are tracking Udinese’s Kwadwo Asamoah. The Ghana midfielder, 22, can play on the left or in the centre and is valued at £8million by the Serie A club.

The Mail, who have gone a little transfer crazy today, also claim Nani is a target for Juventus, Schalke are vowing to keep Klaas-Jan Huntelaar supposedly from United's clutches and Leeds want Tomasz Kuszczak, even though Alex McCarthy looks set to join the Yorkshiremen from Reading.

The Sun, and others, claim as an exclusive that Fabio Capello will pick star striker Wayne Rooney for Euro 2012 - despite his suspension. However, the United ace looks unlikely to be included in the squad for the friendlies with Spain and Sweden as the Italian tries out other options. Rooney regrets his red card in Montenegro: "Obviously it's devastating for me but it's something that's my own fault so I can't really complain," he is quoted as saying in The Times. "It was stupid by me - I regretted as soon as I did it. It's no excuse but I still feel the punishment is a bit harsh. All the details we have been waiting on have come through, so we'll be making a decision as to whether we will be appealing. Even if it's reduced by one game, it will be a bonus for me."

Finally, L'Equipe reveal that Laurent Blanc left Patrice Evra out of the France squad because of a personal issue that could also lead to the left-back missing the Reds' game with Sunderland on Saturday. "He needs rest," said Blanc. "He has been hit by a family drama that will prevent him from being with us." It's reported that one of Evra's brothers died at the age of 42 from a heart-attack before the derby match against City.

source : Manutd