After returning from the FIFA Confederations Cup with the Golden Boot and the Silver Ball, Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano has become hot property in the transfer market.

AC Milan have long expressed their admiration for the 28-year-old and they have recently been linked with another approach for the marksman. But they could face stiff competition after AS reported that Manchester United have entered the race to sign him.

The Red Devils are desperate to acquire a world class forward following the departure of Carlos Tevez and the failed attempt to sign Karim Benzema. And with players like David Villa ruling out a move to England and Sergio Aguero priced out of their range, Luis Fabiano may be the best option for Sir Alex Ferguson.

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Arsene Wenger hopes the French influence at Arsenal will lure Karim Benzema to the Emirates Stadium but he will have to move soon after Real Madrid offered £27 million for the striker.

Mega-rich Real have moved to add Lyon's Benzema to their other stellar summer signings, Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Kaka from AC Milan. Arsene Wenger hopes the French influence at Arsenal will lure Karim Benzema to the Emirates Stadium but he will have to move soon after Real Madrid offered £27 million for the striker.

Mega-rich Real have moved to add Lyon's Benzema to their other stellar summer signings, Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Kaka from AC Milan.

Antonio Valencia will become a Manchester United player within the next 48 hours — and possibly on the same day that the man he is being signed to replace is officially announced as a Real Madrid player.

And that will allow United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to close in on his next targets.The Equadorian striker will join United from Wigan Athletic for a fifth of the £80million they received for Cristiano Ronaldo after completing a medical yesterday.

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Manchester United have been one club repeatedly linked with signing the twenty one year old who came through the youth ranks at his hometown club, made his league debut for them at the age of seventeen and has played over twenty times so far for the French national side. Indeed the current English Premier League champions are reported to have made one bid for Benzema of £25.5 million (€29.9 million) which Lyon apparently did not believe was an adequate valuation of their man.

And it appears that Lyon have displayed sound judgment in declining that offer because, as originally reported by the Spanish sports daily Marca and subsequently repeated by other sources such as Soccer News Real Madrid have now weighed in with a bid of €32 million (£27.3 million).

The reports of Madrid's interest certainly seems to have some substance as firstly the Lyon Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said that “nothing is impossible and if we receive a good offer we will not close the door to anyone.” and then their Director of Communication Olivier Blanc confirmed that “the only news is Real Madrid contacted Olympique Lyon a few days ago to discuss Karim Benzema.” Mr Blanc went on to restate his club's previous position that they want the player to stay with them for another year, before adding that the player himself is happy to remain at the club.

With Spanish club Valencia seemingly unwilling to sell their own star striker David Villa to their rivals in Madrid, that fact is said to have been the prompt for Real to concentrate their efforts on signing Benzema and to that end they have met with the player's agent on two separate occasions already.

Another part of any deal to take Benzema to Spain could be a player exchange. Dutchmen Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or Arjen Robben have been the two names mentioned as possible candidates to move from the Bernabeu to France.

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Real Madrid have officially signed Cristiano Ronaldo on a six-year deal worth 93 million euros ($A161.99 million), the Spanish giants announced Friday.

Former Manchester United forward Ronaldo is set to earn 13 million euros ($A22.64 million) a year with Real, thus becoming the world's highest-paid footballer.

A statement on the offical website of Real Madrid said: "Real Madrid CF and Manchester United have signed the definitive agreement for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish club on 1 July.

"The player will stay at Real Madrid for six seasons."

Ronaldo's deal will see him move ahead of current soccer salary king, Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who currently earns 12 million euros ($A20.9 million) a year.Ronaldo, 24, had been on around 7.5 million euros ($A13.06 million) a year at Old Trafford.

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Manchester United have just unveiled their kit for the 2009-10 campaign, but don't expect the supporters to flood the merchandise shop for this one.

The new design marks a notable departure from last season's rather minimalistic effort, for the usual red is 'enhanced' by a black chevron ('V') around the upper chest.

The strip commemorates the style of shirt worn at the time of Old Trafford's opening 100 years ago, and the players who modelled it for the impending launch had only praise.

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Manchester United are set to get one over arch-rivals Chelsea by making a £50 million swoop for Argentina striker Sergio Aguero.

The Atletico Madrid front man is one of the hottest properties in Europe and new Stamford Bridge boss Carlo Ancelotti is a long-time admirer.

But Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to steal a march on the Blues and clubs in Italy by flashing a huge slice of the £80 million he will receive for Real Madrid-bound Cristiano Ronaldo.

Aguero would be a direct replacement for his Argentine team-mate Carlos Tevez who turned down a lucrative deal at Old Trafford last week, seemingly in favour of their cross-town rivals, Manchester City.United enjoy a good relationship with Aguero’s representatives IMG and they have reportedly offered to work as Spanish-based scouts for the Premier League champions.

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In a seldom seen exodus of players from Old Trafford, Manchester United has lost two impressive players over the course of a few weeks time. First the club sells Christiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, now Carlos Tevez is gone and may sign with Manchester City.Seeing how City has some deep pockets these days, who can blame Tevez?

While Sir Alex Ferguson and the Red Devils have the luxury of having a deep bench, with plenty of options available at mid field and attacking positions. These two losses do hurt. Most fans expected at least one of these great players to be in a red jersey come kick off next season. Still disappointed fans aside, Ronaldo may have been addition by subtraction, and while Tevez showed great form and paired well with Wayne Rooney, he was rarely first choice for the squad. Sir Alex never loses a player he wants to keep, so it is likely he knows something we do not.

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Lyon have now indicated they will accept offers for their highly-prized striker Karim Benzema.

And that will pave the way for Manchester United to make a £35million bid to bring the France international (above) to Old Trafford.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had said he wanted to keep the 21-year-old for one more season, but after United made clear they would almost double their original valuation of £18million, he is ready to do business.

United manager Ferguson is ready to increase his efforts to sign the 21 year-old following Carlos Tevez's decision to reject the offer of a five-year contract to stay at Old Trafford, with sources on Sunday indicating that Manchester City were still thought to be leading the race for the Argentine's signature.
Tevez's departure, coupled with the impending £80 million sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, has left United needing to replace two forwards who contributed 41 goals between them last season.Benzema, a France international with a proven pedigree in the Champions League, has been identified by Ferguson as a key target.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has admitted that a "tsunami of money" could force the French club's hand and sporting director Bernard Lacombe claimed over the weekend that United have the financial muscle to prise Benzema from Stade Gerland.

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