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MANCHESTER UNITED have made the first move in the summer
battle for highly-rated French midfield star Yann
M’Vila.
Sir Alex Ferguson flew by private jet to Rennes on Friday to
watch the 20-year-old face Marseille – United’s opponents in
Tuesday’s Champions League second-leg last-16 tie at Old
Trafford.
The Red Devils chief sat alongside Tottenham No.2 Kevin Bond,
who was at the game to watch M’Vila as well.
Liverpool’s director of football strategy Damien Comolli also
flew in to see Marseille win 2-0 – but it appears United are in
pole position, having made a discreet inquiry about the player to
Rennes’ top brass.
And they are hopeful of landing the £20million-rated defensive
midfield star, who has already expressed his desire to move to Old
Trafford.
M’Vila told the French media: “Manchester United is the club of
my dreams. It’s a very prestigious club and I dream of playing for
them.”
The star, who took on England in the 2-1 win by France in
November, has represented his country at every level from Under-16
upwards, captaining many of the age groups.
Battle
Liverpool are prepared to pay £16m for the youngster, but
Ferguson sees M’Vila as the man to replace Owen Hargreaves, who has
struggled with injury and is unlikely to be offered a new contract
at United after two serious knee operations.
M’Vila has been a revelation this season for Rennes, who are in
the thick of the battle for the French title, and he is in line for
his country’s Young Player of the Year award.
Meanwhile, Ferguson is gearing up for a busy summer with
Napoli’s Slovakian star Marek Hamsik on his radar. United scouts
watched the exciting playmaker against Brescia last weekend – but
Barcelona and Real Madrid are big rivals for the 23-year-old, who
would cost around £22m.
Napoli are keen on 19-year-old United striker Federico Macheda,
currently on loan with Sampdoria in Serie A, but club sources say
the Italian striker is part of Fergie’s future plans and is not for
sale.
United are also hoping to steal a march on Barcelona by snapping
up Besiktas wonderkid Muhammed Demirci, just 16. Fergie’s scouts
have been tracking him for some time, even though he is contracted
to the Turks until 2013.
Anderlecht teenager Adnan Januzaj is also close to a move to
United.