ASHLEY Young has emerged as Manchester United’s top
transfer target with Sir Alex Ferguson poised to offer £25million
for the England winger.
The United boss has
identified the Aston Villa player as the man to fill his problem
spot on the left.
But United face
competition from Barcelona, who beat them in last season’s
Champions League final.
Villa boss Martin
O’Neill is mortified at the prospect of losing Young, 24, a £9.65m
buy from Watford in 2007, who signed a new four-year contract only
eight months ago.
Significantly, he is
already chasing another left-sided player in the shape of
Middlesbrough and England wide-man Stewart Downing, who would cost
£12m.
Fergie’s summer
signings have so far been £15m Antonio Valencia from Wigan, who
will mainly operate on the right flank, Michael Owen on a free from
Newcastle and Bordeaux winger Gabriel Obertan, who at 20, is a
youngster regarded as one for the future, for an initial £3m.
United, meanwhile,
have boosted their transfer coffers this week after England
Under-21 striker Fraizer Campbell moved to Sunderland in a £5m
deal.
The Old Trafford club
banked a world record £80m when Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real
Madrid and another £1.5m dropped into the kitty when they sold
winger Lee Martin to Ipswich.
Meanwhile Enrique
Cerezo, Atletico Madrid’s president, says he has not received any
offers from United for Sergio Aguero, 21.
Reports claim United
have made an offer worth £30m plus Portuguese winger Nani to
acquire the Argentina international.
The striker is under
contract with the Primera Liga outfit until 2012 in a deal with a
55m euro buy-out clause.