Fabio Coentrao Pursuit

Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up his pursuit of Portugal left-back Fabio Coentrao after learning that Benfica have already launched the search for his replacement.
Sportsmail first revealed that United were tracking the 22-year old defender last month, and Ferguson is understood to have followed up his interest by contacting Benfica's board and asking to be kept informed of developments.
He can expect a call back before long, after it emerged that Benfica are currently running the rule over two left-backs, Taye Taiwo at Marseille and FC Copenhagen's Oscar Wendt.
United are considering a bid for £20million-rated Coentrao, amid growing concerns over the future of Patrice Evra, who is still weighing up a possible move abroad at the end of the season.
But they will face stern competition from Real Madrid, who have also sounded out Benfica about their World Cup left-back and are ready to match any offer from Old Trafford.

Spurs Target Brown!

Having annotated in an article, last week, that United could be preparing to part with Wes Brown in the January transfer window, Spurs could be emerging as a destination.

Wanted by a host of Premier League clubs, Brown, now thirty-one, is interesting Spurs after their attempts to lure Phil Neville to North London fell on deaf ears.

Well that`s what one leading Sunday tabloid is peddling in its gossip pages this morning!

Chelsea to beat Man Utd for brilliant £20m Serie A winger

 There are reports coming in today that both Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti are very keen on bringing in the Chilean international winger Alexis Sanchez to the Premier League, after the Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti admitted that the Italian giants had failed to persuade Udinese to let him leave.
Sanchez is one of the hottest properties in Italy at the moment, and Inter have been trying to nab him all season, but the Mail today reports that both Man Utd and Chelsea have entered the race for Sanchez, and it is most likely that he will end up at Stamford Bridge rather than Old Trafford.
Roman Abramovich has agreed to back Carlo Ancelotti this month as Chelsea desperately try to regain a Champions League slot, and Sanchez would bring a new attacking option to Chelsea’s front line as Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda are all floundering in front of goal at the moment.
Alex Ferguson desperately wants Sanchez as well, but it is unlikely that he will be allowed to splash the cash to beat Ancelotti in a bidding war.
Sanchez may only be 22, but he is wowing crowds in Italy, and is also an experienced Chilean international, having scored 12 times in just 34 appearances for his country.
The Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin admitted that he could lose Sanchez this month when he said yesterday: “If it was up to me then I would keep Sanchez until June and I think the club agree with me on that.
“However, it does depend on a number of factors and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
It looks like Chelsea will get a great boost to take them forward again in the Premiership title race….

Alex Ferguson angry at Rafael red card

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson seemed furious with right-back Rafael's sending-off at Spurs, refusing to talk about it after the 0-0 draw.

The 20-year-old defender received a second yellow card from referee Mike Dean for tripping Spurs left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto after 75 minutes.
Wayne Rooney was also booked for protesting the decision and Ferguson said: "I don't need to discuss that."
"You can see for yourself. I don't need to discuss the referee," he added.
Rafael, who was up against Gareth Bale on the left of Tottenham's midfield, was booked in the first half for a foul on Spurs midfielder Wilson Palacios.
In a game where defences were largely on top, Tottenham had three great chances to score with Peter Crouch going close in the first half, Rafael Van Der Vaart missing with a header before half-time and the Dutchman shooting just over following a late corner.
Rooney, meanwhile, showed glimpses of last season's form with a shot in the second half which was finely saved by Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes.
Following Rafael's dismissal it was United's defence which was most under pressure with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand enjoying good performances at the heart of the Red Devils' defence.
"It was a tough game, they didn't make many chances against us, we were a bit careless with our use of the ball, it was a decent point for us," said Ferguson.
"Our defenders were particularly good but when we were in the final third maybe we needed a better pass."

Suarez Ready To Move

Ajax striker Luis Suarez claims he is ready for a big move as speculation mounts surrounding his future.

The prolific Uruguay international is regarded as one of the hottest properties in Europe with Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United reportedly interested.
Ajax have so far resisted the urge to sell the star, who could cost over £20million, but Suarez now claims he is ready to leave and places honours ahead of wages.
"If I move I want to join a real football club where they play good, attacking football," Suarez is quoted as saying in The Sunday Mirror.
"I will decline any offer from clubs like Shakhtar Donetsk or [Zenit] Saint Petersburg where they offer you sacks full of money.
"I've an obsession to win trophies. I am a South American with the mentality to win."
Ajax coach Frank de Boer has held talks with the 23-year-old, who has scored seven goals in 13 league starts this season, and the Dutchman is preparing for his exit.
"I've had a showdown with Luis," said the former Barcelona player, who was appointed as Martin Jol's successor at the beginning of the month.
"I wanted to know what his plans are and what the future will bring. Luis is training hard. He told me that if a big club comes in for him now he is ready to talk to them."
And De Boer admitted: "I've a back-up scenario ready."

Bale on the radar?

Sir Alex Ferguson will make a summer offer in the region of £40m for Tottenham wide man Gareth Bale as the Manchester United boss places the Welsh international at the top of his summer wish-list. The Old Trafford manager believes that his squad is one of the best he has had during his lengthy reign but feels that the White Hart Lane starlet would represent an improvement.
Ferguson has chastised himself for failing to land Bale when he was impressing all and sundry at Southampton and the Scot will now try to lure the Cardiff born youngster to Man United with the promise of being able to challenge for major honours something that at this present time Tottenham may struggle to do even at their most resurgent best.
Harry Redknapp knows he may struggle to keep the left winger at the club if his head is turned by interest shown in him from Europe’s elite and an offer of such magnitude will only tempt Spurs if Bale announces his intention to leave.
Bale has become a crucial part of Tottenham’s success over the past 18 months and any offer will surely be turned down and any hope Ferguson has of winning the race to sign their number one target would depend solely on whether the player himself pushes for an exit something that becomes more likely if the north London club fails to secure a top four finish.

No Complaints by SAF

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed his side’s defensive stability after Manchester United returned to the summit of the Premier League despite being held to a goalless draw at Tottenham.

Harry Redknapp’s Spurs, who were looking for their first win against United in 10 years, looked the more dangerous in possession but failed to deliver in the final third, with the best chance of the afternoon falling to Peter Crouch early in the first half.
From there on the United rearguard coped efficiently with any Spurs attacks as captain Nemanja Vidic led by example with a superb defensive display for the unbeaten league leaders.
“We defended very well, they never gave us any trouble with their attacking,” Sir Alex said. “We had one or two good opportunities at times when we got to the last third of the field but we just didn’t quite have the cutting edge.
“The kind of pressure we were under was just long balls into the box really. With Ferdinand and Vidic as your centre-backs you know you can cope with that. They were fantastic, the whole back four did really really well.”
The United boss, whose side moved level on points with second-placed Manchester City having played two games less than their derby rivals, added: “In the context of Tottenham’s home record this season and the performances they have given, we have got to take it as a good point for us.
“It’s about winning games and keeping your nerve and today, defensively, we kept our nerve. It was a decent point, I can’t complain.”
Referee Mike Dean showed seven yellow cards at White Hart Lane and United right-back Rafael looked unlucky to have been sent off after receiving his second booking for bringing down Benoît Assou-Ekotto.
But the United manager refused to be drawn on the incident after the final whistle. “I don’t need to discuss that, you can see for yourself,” he said. “I don’t need to discuss the referee.”
Spurs boss Redknapp, whose side remain in fifth place in the Premier League, agreed with Sir Alex’s assessment that defence prevailed in north London. He said: “Chances were few and far between. I thought we edged the game without creating too many clear-cut chances.
“They [Manchester United] are a Champions League winning team, they’ve played big games and defended for their lives in Europe. They came here and were difficult to beat.”
Redknapp added: “When they went to 10 men we couldn’t have been more open. We were as open as a barn door going for it.”