Quote:Skysports.com understands a number of sides are eyeing a move for Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet.

A host of Premier League and Championship teams are thought to be exploring the option of signing versatile defender De Laet on loan for next season.

De Laet has impressed at United since joining from Stoke in January 2009 and made his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2008/09 season against Hull.

The Belgian international has made five appearances in the first team this season and he is highly-regarded within the corridors of Old Trafford.

De Laet has followed in the footsteps of Nicky Butt, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher in recently being named the club's reserve-team Player of the Year after a number of impressive performances for United's second string.

Ferguson is keen to farm out his best young players so that they can continue their development and he could be prepared to loan out De Laet with first-team chances limited in the United starting XI.

Quote:Cologne are desperate to keep hold of Manchester United loan star Zoran Tosic, according to reports in Germany.

Tosic has spent time out on loan at Bundesliga outfit Cologne since January but is set for a return to his parent club after the deal expired.

The German side said they were keen on keeping hold of the Serbian for the new campaign but could see their attempts scuppered as it emerged United were looking to off-load the 23-year-old.

The Red Devils are said to be eyeing up a £4million deal should they choose to sell the winger and are reportedly not interesting in arranging a new loan agreement for his services.

Fighting

Tosic's loan spell had no option to buy the player upon its expiry meaning the club have a battle on their hands to keep the former Serbia Under-21 international, who could move to another team.

The United man netted five times in 14 appearances for the RheinEnergie Stadion outfit and chairman Wolfgang Overath says he is doing his upmost to keep hold of the player ahead of the new campaign.

He told German newspaper Express: "We are fighting to keep the player.

"I think we are the first club in any line, should it be up to Zoran (Tosic). That was what he has told us in person.

"We are definitely trying our very best to get him going on at our club."

Quote:Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster is set to undergo a medical at Birmingham on Tuesday as he closes in on a move to St Andrews.

The two clubs agreed a fee in the region of £6million for Foster's signature last week and subject to a medical he is set to become Birmingham's first signing of the summer.

Birmingham made their move for Foster after Joe Hart returned to Manchester City after a successful season on loan at the Midlands outfit.

Foster will be keen to get his career back on track at St Andrews after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford during the past season.

The England international started the season in goal due to an injury to Edwin van der Sar, but following a couple of high-profile mistakes against Manchester City and Sunderland he lost his place when the Dutch ace returned to full fitness.

Foster then found himself relegated to the bench and as a result he missed out on England's World's Cup squad.

The 27-year-old revealed earlier this month he might have to leave United in search of first-team football and it seems his spell at Old Trafford is drawing to a close.

Quote:Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Manchester United expect to make only one more addition this summer.

Chief executive David Gill insists funds are available for fresh faces, but Ferguson claims he has faith in those already at his disposal.

Despite finishing as runners-up to Chelsea in the 2009/10 Premier League title race, the Red Devils believe they are heading in the right direction.

That means Ferguson will resist the urge to splash the cash this summer, preferring instead to continue developing those in the reserve and youth ranks at Old Trafford.

He has already put deals in place for Fulhamdefender Chris Smalling and Mexican star Javier Hernandez and feels there is no need to implement an overhaul of his playing staff.

Structure

"In the market today it's very, very difficult and the structure of our squad is good in terms of ages, the balance, the numbers and there's a lot of good young players," said Ferguson.

"Sometimes you have to trust in all the development of the last few years and I'm going to stick with that, or most of it.

"There may be one signing and maybe we'd like to get a good player to the club, of course, but it's not easy in the present day climate and I've nothing definite to tell you because we're still assessing whoever's available and the difficulties in terms of who you'd bring in."

Gill has echoed the sentiments of his manager, adding: "Hernandez and Smalling are signings we've already made and the other point to bear in mind is that the Premier League is bringing in squad limits next year of 25, which we clearly operate [in European competitions] but is now coming to the Premier League.

"There will be unlimited U21s and other rules and we'll be taking all that into consideration."