United will begin the defence of their Premier League title at home to newly promoted Birmingham as the campaign gets under way on the weekend of August 15.

United have to wait until the end of the month before they play one of the top four clubs as they take on Arsenal at Old Trafford on 29 August, with the return fixture at the Emirates on 30 January.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side visit Anfield to play Liverpool on 24 October and last season's runners-up are at Old Trafford on 20 March. Chelsea are the last of the other top four sides to face United when they play the champions at Stamford Bridge on 7 November, with the return fixture on 3 April.

Last season's losing Champions League finalists close the season at home to Stoke on 9 May, while Liverpool finish their season at Hull on 9 May.

Brazil prospect Douglas Costa’s agent has claimed the Gremio youngster is being eyed as a potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.

Attacking midfielder Douglas, 18, has earned rave reviews in his homeland and has been linked with the Old Trafford club for the last two years.

Douglas has four years remaining on his contract with Gremio but the Brazilian side are likely to hold out for around £20 million.

The diminutive Brazil U20 international has been described as ’the new Ronaldinho’ and is a noted free-kick specialist

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan have also been tracking him over the last 18 months.

But his agent, Cesar Bottega, believes the player could fill the void left by Madrid-bound Ronaldo at United and claims he is on Sir Alex Ferguson’s shortlist of targets.

Bottega said: "They have identified four or five possible replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo in the world, and Douglas is one of them.

"We have been contacted by several clubs some time ago, including Manchester [United], but by South American ones as well."

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United appear poised to make a formal offer for Wigan Athletic winger Antonio Valencia, according to Latics chairman Dave Whelan.

United, who are set to sell forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m, are keen to sign the 23-year-old.

"They have been in touch with us and we will be starting negotiations very shortly, I would imagine," said Whelan.

"If Antonio says he wants to go to Manchester United and we get the right fee, the deal will be done."

Some reports in the British media on Saturday claimed United had already submitted a £17.5m bid for the Ecuadorian, who would be a natural replacement for Ronaldo on the right wing.

"United have been in touch with us over Antonio for the last two or three months, expressing an interest and actually putting cash offers on the table," added Whelan.

"Those things have got to be picked up now. I think they were waiting to see if Ronaldo actually went to Real.

"Things will develop over the next seven to 14 days. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will make his move when he is ready. He is a shrewd operator and the finest manager the world has ever seen."

Whelan said he was not desperate to sell Valencia: "If I can keep the lad, I'm going to keep him. He is one brilliant player.

"So there is no pressure on me, or our football club, to sell him. If Manchester United don't want to make a written offer, I'll be delighted and we will have him in our team next season."

However, Whelan added on Sky Sports News that he would not stand in Valencia's way if he wanted to move to Old Trafford.

United are lining up a move to take Samuel Eto’o to Old Trafford as they prepare to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s impending departure.

Sir Alex Ferguson is eager to find a replacement for the Portugal forward as soon as possible and has made a firm inquiry about Eto’o. The United manager is confident of getting the Barcelona forward and knows that he needs to bolster his roster of strikers if Carlos Tévez leaves the club this summer.

Eto’o is one of Manchester City’s leading summer transfer targets, but United look like beating their rivals to the Cameroon player’s signature.