United have asked about Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure amid growing concern over the fitness of Owen Hargreaves.

England midfielder Hargreaves has been restricted to just 25 appearances since joining United from Bayern Munich for £17m two years ago, and there are worries over his future after two major knee operations last season.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists Hargreaves will be back before the end of the year but has asked about Toure, who could be allowed to leave Barcelona if Liverpool's Javier Mascherano is signed to perform the holding role.

With the additions of Valencia and Owen,how many more players would we be happy with before the season starts?
I would be happy with another striker and a left sided midfielder?
So thats two for me?

UNITED winger Nani wants boss Sir Alex Ferguson to give him assurances over his future - but he may not get them.

The Portuguese international, 22, is concerned about speculation he could be surplus to requirements.

And he will sit down with Fergie during preseason training to find out exactly where he stands.

A United source said: "Nani believes his chance has come following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, but the rumours just won't go away and he is looking for answers."

Nani has struggled to live up to expectations since his £14million move from Sporting Lisbon two seasons ago.

Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid and Villarreal have both been linked with moves for the player.

ManUtdPeople understands Sir Alex still thinks Nani will come good but will not stand in his way if he is unhappy.

He could even prove a valuable makeweight as the United boss pursues further attacking options.

The £18m arrival of winger Antonio Valencia from Wigan will have done little to ease Nani's fears.

SAMUEL ETO'O will drop his astronomic wage demands to join Manchester United.

The Barcelona striker has been haggling over a move to Manchester City for nearly six weeks and has asked for £200,000 a week to quit the Nou Camp.

He also wants a £12million slice of the £25m transfer fee, which has prevented the deal from going through as the European champions stand firm.

But the Cameroon international would waive such a lump sum if Sir Alex Ferguson came in for him. Fergie could still be in for a striker - despite the capture of Michael Owen - and only a club of United's stature will prise Eto'o away from Spain.

He would accept a cut-price £150,000-a-week deal that would still make him the top earner at Old Trafford instead of the possibility of mid-table football at Eastlands.

One source close to the player said: "Samuel has not been convinced by a move to a mid-table side in the Premier League and neither will he sign a new deal at Barca."

Barcelona have offered the player a two-year extension on his current £100,000- a-week deal.

But Eto'o, 28, could play out his final year at Barcelona and be free to negotiate a lucrative swansong at the end of next season.

Barcelona will go ahead with their plans to sign David Villa this week regardless of Eto'o digging his heels in.

Coach Pep Guardiola has told sporting director Txiki Begiristain that he would have no problem having both Eto'o and Villa in the same team.

If Valencia turn down Barca's £40m offer for Villa, they will turn their attention to Diego Forlan. The Atletico Madrid striker has a £33m buyout clause, although Barca believe they could get him for closer to £30m.

United may have a rather Italian feel about it in years to come as Empoli 16 year old, Alberto Massacci, has agreed personal terms with a move to the Red Devils from Italy.

The deal is expected to be completed early next week as it is thought Massacci has already had and passed a medical at Carrington. The full-back spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about how surprised and delighted he was when Sir Alex contacted him at first.


"When Sir Alex Ferguson rang me up, I couldn’t believe it. I had an hour-long conversation with him, in English. He seemed a humble person and nobody from the club made the pressure of an historic side weigh on my shoulders,” said the teenager.

"In life a chance like this only comes past you once, so you’ve got to grab it with both hands. It isn’t an easy decision aged 16 to leave home, family and friends, but I don’t want to have regrets."

It means that Alberto will join up with fellow countrymen, Davide Petrucci and Federico ‘Kiko’ Macheda at United.

United have been attacked verbally on poaching young talent from all over the world and it will add another club to the list of teams unhappy with United’s transfer styles, Empoli.

Federico Macheda was snapped up from the Lazio youth teams which left the Italian club less then impressed with the manner in which they lost a future star.