Ashley Young undergoes Man Utd medical today.

Ashley Young’s move from Aston Villa to Manchester United is close to being complete after he underwent a medical today.

To be unveiled: The new Devil!

The 25-year old England winger has already agreed personal terms with the Premier League champions and is now a step closer to making the shift to Old Trafford.

Reports suggest that an official announcement could be made tomorrow (Thursday) with the transfer fee likely to be around £15million.

The former Watford man, who will earn up to £130,000 a week, will be Sir Alex Ferguson’s second signing of the summer, following young defender Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers.

Man Utd boss Ferguson recruits priest to help scandal-hit stars

Manchester United have turned to the clergy in a bid to sort out their randy players.

Club chaplain Rev John Boyers has told The Daily Star, that in the wake of the recent Ryan Giggs scandal, he has been asked to speak to star players about their ‘sexual ethics.’

It was recently suggested that Giggs has offered to have sex therapy, so we suppose a bit of spiritual guidance wouldn’t hurt either and after the amount of kiss and tell stories concerning football stars in recent years, Boyers says he is happy to point players in the right direction.

The chaplain, a Baptist minister who joined United from Watford FC in 1992 explained:

“I do some work with the academy teaching them life skills – situations in life they may encounter and how they might cope. “Things like friendship, sexual ethics, bereavement, bullying and prejudice, racism. I try to help them prepare for adult life.

“I also do general pastoral support and spiritual support work right across the club and as people have got to know me and trust me they open up and talk to me about life, issues and problems.

“We’ve had many situations in football ranging from drugs scandals to financial scandals and behavioural scandals which show there is real worth in having a chaplaincy.’’

“I guess some people heed advice more than others,’’ a source added. “Rev John is a highly regarded member of the team and does his best to help set our young players along the right path. Handling fame and all that goes with it is not easy.’’

In other news, Natasha Giggs has landed her first magazine deal and admitted that she repeatedly slept with her brother in law, because she was bored with her life.

Well as long as she had a good excuse eh?

Rafael attracts Barcelona interest

Barcelona are interested in Manchester United fullback Rafael da Silva.

 Barca see Rafael as a long-term successor to Daniel Alves.


Alves penned a new deal with Barca earlier this year, but Barca are still planning for the long-term and have United right-back Rafael in their sights.


Rafael was kept out of United's first team for the Champions League final by twin brother Fabio.

Fabio and Rafael

The pair have just turned 20 years of age and Rafael is already a Brazil international.
Along with his brother, Fábio, Rafael has been praised for his energetic style, and has been described as an "excellent footballer" by Sir Alex Ferguson.

 Les Kershaw, the former Manchester United academy manager who spotted them, described the pair as being like "two little whippets," praising how "when they got knocked down, they just got straight back up again and got on with it.

But Barcelona can just forget about about getting him because SAF is not going to sell him as he was seen as successor for Gary Neville.

Madrid use Zidane to beat United to Varane

Manchester United's £9million target Raphael Varane will hold talks with Real Madrid on Tuesday amid fears at Old Trafford that he could be swayed by French legend Zinedine Zidane. 

The Real Madrid legend is now the club advisor.

United were confident of beating neighbours City, Arsenal, Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain to sign the highly-rated teenage defender from Lens.

Highly rated by Man Utd and Real Madrid.

But now Real have entered the race for Varane, 18, and are hopeful that Zidane – the former Bernabeu favourite who now acts as an advisor to club president Florentino Perez – will convince his fellow Frenchman to move to Spain instead.

Sportsmail revealed United’s interest in April and that they were in pole position to beat off competition from Arsenal for the highly-rated defender. 

Manchester City, Lyon and the nouveau riche Paris St Germain have also monitored his progress but United have showed their commitment to youth once again with a £9million offer and are confident a deal will be concluded shortly. 

The France Under 21 international played 23 times for Lens last term, but could not help them dodge relegation to Ligue 2. 

He is contracted to the Stade Felix Bollaert-based side until 2015 and that plus interest from other clubs is reflected in the size of United’s bid. 

Varane, like United’s other new recruit Phil Jones, is equally adept playing in a defensive midfield role with quick feet and good distribution. 

He is 6ft 3ins tall and at 18 is still growing. His only dilemma is whether a move to United has come to soon. 

Varane has made 17 appearances for Lens this season being used as both centre back and in a defensive midfield role. He said: ‘What interests me is playing regularly and so I have to think carefully and go to a club that will allow me to progress. 

             Varane is one of the brightest young stars in French football having been capped for France under 18 and at under 21 level.

He started playing for Lens under 18′s at the age of just 16, such was his ability and the defender seems to have had somewhat meteoric rise through the clubs ranks.

Man Utd, Chelsea lead scramble as Eto’o stuns Inter: Time for England move

Samuel Eto'o has dropped a bombshell on Inter Milan: I fancy a Premier League move.


The Cameroon ace's declaration comes just 24 hours after it emerged coach Leonardo is set to leave Inter for PSG.

Eto'o told Corriere dello Sport: "I'm evaluating some suggestions: I have a month to decide whether to stay or choose the Premier League.


"I'm 30 so I will have to consider well before the last real contract. I won the gamble to be able to play in Italy and in my mind the time to play in England is now approaching."


Eto'o's sensational comments are sure to spark a mad rush for his signature.

Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are all sure to be keen to take the Cameroon international to England this summer, while Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will also be on red alert.


For his part, Eto'o has confessed a great admiration for the work of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Where will he head to next?

Man Utd boss to be made a Lord.

A campaign has kicked off for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to be made a Lord!

The most successful manager!

Two Labour MPs from Manchester - Graham Stringer and Tony Lloyd - have tabled a Commons motion calling for the 69-year-old Scot to be awarded a peerage.

Stringer and Lloyd argue that football should be represented in the House of Lords because of its "economic, social, cultural" importance.

 With 24 years as manager of Manchester United, he is the longest serving manager in their history after overtaking Sir Matt Busby's record on 19 December 2010. His tenure is also the longest of all the current League managers. During this time, Ferguson has won many awards and holds many records including winning Manager of the Year most times in British football history. In 2008, he became the third British manager to win the European Cup on more than one occasion. Ferguson just led United to a record 19th league title in May.

He was knighted in 1999 for his services to the game and also holds the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen.

The motion in full:

"That this House recognises the economic, social, cultural and sporting importance of football to the United Kingdom; is therefore surprised at the paucity of representatives from the world of football in the Upper House; further notes that Sir Alex Ferguson, as the manager of Aberdeen and Manchester United, is the most successful manager in the history of British football; and calls for him to be recommended for appointment to the House of Lords."

Man Utd close in on £27M Sanchez deal.

Manchester United chief David Gill is in Spain for talks with Udinese star Alexis Sanchez's camp.

The Sun says he hopes to wrap up a £27million transfer for football's most wanted man within the next few days.

The most wanted man in football?

If Gill pulls off the audacious swoop - pipping Manchester City, Barcelona and a host of other European giants - it will take manager Alex Ferguson's summer spending to an amazing £82m.

Gill flew out to meet with Udinese owner Gino Pozzo in Barcelona, where he lives, in a bid to thrash out a deal for a player who is also being tracked by Barcelona and Inter Milan.

It will come as a crushing blow to City. They believed their massive financial clout had swayed the Chilean winger, 22.

But agent Fernando Felicevich said: "An agreement with City? Sanchez's future is still very much wide open.

"We are working on it and, after meetings with City, we have other new appointments."

The 19-time champions are increasingly confident of getting their man, even though £27m is about £4m more than they had originally hoped to pay.

But they have had to up the offer to beat off Barca and City.

The crucial factor in United's favour is that the player himself far prefers the idea of a move to Old Trafford than a switch to Eastlands.

Alexis Sanchez: Started his career in his homeland with Cobreloa

Marvin Martin - the new France sensation.

As international debuts go, the night that Marvin Martin played for France against Ukraine  were special by any standards. 

He made nine successful passes out of nine, took three shots and scored two goals, made one successful dribble and another assist, taking the corner from which fellow debutant Younes Kaboul scored in the 4-1 win.

The hype machine was in full flow,  with L'Equipe calling him "MM" (just as Zidane was "ZZ").

The 23 year old Martin was barely known before this season: rejected by the national academy at Clairefontaine when he was 12 for being too small , he was spotted by Sochaux's Paris scout Christian Puxel as a teenager. Puxel was convinced by his strengths: his game intelligence and anticipation of teammates' movements.

Martin was a regular for the perennial relegation candidates for 18 months, but this season exploded as the team overachieved by finishing in eighth place. Sochaux's attacking style of football, in what has become renowned as a tactically cautious division, centered around Martin, who made a league-best 17 assists for his teammates just one short of Ligue 1's all-time record.

Martin laughed when L'Equipe called him "Little Xavi" earlier in the season but has admitted to taking notes from Barcelona matches.

His agent, Jean-Marie Cantona (Eric's brother) has said Martin wants to leave Sochaux, while the French press say this week's exploits have raised his fee from €7 million ($10M) to €11 million ($15.7M). Lille, Lyon and his boyhood team Paris Saint-Germain are all reported to be interested. It was also reported Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson sees Martin as a potential replacement for the retired Paul Scholes. If the Sneijder trasfer saga fail, do expect United to move in for this little playmaker rated by Sochaux at €15 million.

With established players like Gourcuff underperforming (it was Gourcuff's hamstring injury that allowed Martin his chance), now is a good time to be making an impression. 

On Thursday, Martin made his first start against Poland, and played a more understated role, unsurprisingly, in France's 1-0 win. If he can keep Gourcuff out of the team, it would be a major step in Blanc's efforts to Spain-ify France's style of play. Just as it has been all season for Sochaux, Martin's timing has been just perfect.

"Sochaux are good, but it’s a shame they are a club who are not too ambitious. And me, well, I am ambitious. I want to win titles and play in the European Cups." - Marvin Martin

Leeds winger to join Barcelona - after snubbing Manchester United

Manchester United are set to lose out to Barcelona once again, this time in the pursuit of one of the country's most exciting young players. 

Leeds winger Elliott Kebbie has been long been tracked by Sir Alex Ferguson, and even spent time on trial at Old Trafford last year. 

However the 16-year-old winger is on the brink of a move to the European champions after turning out for the Juvenil B team and spending time at the famous La Masia training site.

The winger, who was born in Halifax, is blessed with phenomenal pace and was considered a bright sprinting prospect before choosing to focus fully on football. 

Kebbie was due to graduate to the scholarship programme at Leeds' famous Thorp Arch academy next season but has instead made the switch to Spain, for which the Elland Road outfit can expect a hefty fee. 

A statement on Leeds' official website said: 'The club has retained its right to compensation should he choose to pursue a football career in Spain and sign for another club.'

Last year reports suggested Manchester United had agreed a £1million compensation package with Leeds for the Kebbie's signature but Kebbie choose to remain at Leeds.

Should Kebbie secure his switch to the Nou Camp, it would be form of revenge for the Spaniards, who consider the 'nicking' of stars like Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique by big clubs 'immoral'.

Ferguson convinced £35M Sneijder wants Old Trafford move

Manchester United are ready to go higher for Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder.


The People says United's spending frenzy is set to ­accelerate with a final tilt for £35million Sneijder.

Despite claims on Inter Milan’s website last week that he is happy in Italy and sees no reason to move, United believe 27-year-old Sneijder DOES fancy a fresh challenge at Old Trafford.


They should ­discover this week if a deal is possible.

Is he Old Trafford bound?

Phil Jones to finally move to Manchester United - deal!

Phil Jones will finally move to Manchester United after the Barclays Premier League champions refused to budge on their £16.5million offer for the Blackburn defender.

Following a meeting with manager Steve Kean in India, Rovers owners Venky’s admitted defeat in their attempts to force United to pay more.

There were suggestions the deal could be in jeopardy or that United might at least agree to pay various add-ons that could push the eventual figure past £20m.

But they are sticking to the £16.5m release clause in the 19-year-old’s contract, safe in the knowledge that Blackburn are powerless to stop him leaving.

Venky’s had attempted to block the deal, claiming they would not be bullied into accepting United’s bid for a player they value at £25m when there were other offers from Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.

However, they were forced to accept that the clause — inserted into Jones’s contract in February — had been ratified by their own executives and could not be challenged.