Man United close to signing £6.5m Liverpool Target

Manchester United are set to beat Liverpool to the signature of FC Porto star Fernando, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, reports the London Metro .

The 26-year-old midfielder - who is valued at £ 6.5million - has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this month , having entered the final six months of his contract at the Estadio do Dragao .

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had been credited with an interest in bringing the Brazilian to Anfield, having already lost out Basel winger Mohamed Salah to Chelsea .

However, Liverpool's prospective move for the Porto star also looks like being hijacked, this time by David Moyes and Manchester United.

Not content with the £37.1million club-record signing of Juan Mata, the Premier League champions have now turned their transfer attention to Fernando, and hope to conclude a deal that will see him arrive at Old Trafford before the end of the month .

Everton and AC Milan have also been mooted as admirers of the South American schemer, who is equally capable of playing in a central defensive role, but Manchester United look to be leading the race for his signature.

Manchester United preparing £25m bid for Toni Kroos?

Manchester United is reportedly Preparing a £ 25 million bid for Bayern Munich player, Toni Kroos. The Telegraph is claiming David Moyes was in the stands to run the rule over Bayern's Toni Kroos during your trip to Borussia Monchengladbach. Also sports books are now slashing the odds on United signing Kroos in the Red Devils at Bayern Favor peace talks have stalled. 

Toni Kroos and Marco Reus are 6/5 and 15/8 respectively to follow Juan Mata to Manchester United, say the casinos

Manchester United bid for Shaw

Manchester United have made ​​a substantial offer to Southampton for their 18-year-old full-back Luke Shaw and are awaiting a response from the south coast club, a source has told ESPN. A report in the Daily Mirror suggests United have made ​​a bid for Shaw 22.5 million, with ESPN 's source confirming that's the Red Devils have made ​​a bid that will test the will of new Saints interim chief operating officer Gareth Rogers.

Southampton owner Katharina Liebherr has gone on record to insist she will not sell any of the club's star assets in this transfer window after assuming control of the club following the departure of executive chairman Nicola Cortese earlier this month. That view has been echoed by Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino, but it does not be reflected to have deterred United from making an offer for one of the most highly rated defenders in the Premier League .

Chelsea have also been heavily linked with a move for Shaw over the past year, with the Blues believed to have made ​​inquiries about his availability prior to the start of this season. Saints officials staved off that approach as they vowed to hang onto the latest shining star to emerge from a celebrated academy set-up that has produced the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the recent years. However, a big money bid from United will test Southampton 's resolve , as the Premier League champions look to build on the momentum created by their club record signing of Spain midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea .

United announce Signing of Juan Mata

Manchester United have to announced they have signed Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata for a fee of 37.1 million pounds. The 25 -year-old has moved to Old Trafford giving Chelsea, who signed him from Valencia in 2011 for 23 million pounds, a profit of around 14 million pounds. Mata passed his medical; having been linked with a move last week; and could make his United debut against Cardiff at Old Trafford on Tuesday .

Mata told MUTV: "I am thrilled to be joining United. I have enjoyed some very happy years at Chelsea but the time has come for a new challenge. United is the perfect place for me and I am excited at the chance I have to be part of the next phase in the club 's history. "Chelsea is a top club and I have many friends there but you can not turn down the chance to join Manchester United. I look forward to helping the manager and the team be successful in the coming years .

"Today is a very happy day for me, I'm very proud to be here. It's amazing knowing that a club like United is interested in me. "It's a massive club. I thought 'wow' when I heard of the interest. I know this is a big money deal, i'm confident that everything is going to be ok, I will try my best , and I think everything is going to be right because the squad is very good, the manager is very good , the fans are unbelievable so we have everything to succeed .

Mata scored 20 goals for Chelsea last season but has only made ​​11 league starts in the current campaign and has not featured since the 3-0 win over Southampton on New Year 's Day . He has scored 33 goals in 133 games for Chelsea in all competitions

Mata Welcomed to Man Utd

Juan Mata has left Chelsea for Manchester United with the club's blessing and wrote a goodbye message to fans on his personal website. 

Meanwhile, there was also an emotional farewell from fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres, who posted a picture of himself and Mata celebrating Chelsea's Champions League triumph of 2012 on Instagram. Accompanying the picture was the message: "Thanks for everything. I miss you already my friend. # allthebest"

Rooney begins New contract Talks

Wayne Rooney has begun initial discussions over a new contract at Manchester United, but sources on both sides of negotiations that's maintain no deal has yet been struck .

Rooney 's future at Old Trafford had been cast into doubt over recent months amid increasing interest from the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid .

The striker has 18 months remaining on his current contract and United have so far refused to sell one of their main assets, having turned down two separate bids from Chelsea last summer .

Earlier this week , reports emerged that's Real Madrid were eyeing up a 25 million pound swoop for Rooney, following his apparent reluctance to commit his future to United.

However, Old Trafford officials were this week hugely confident of the forward signing a new agreement , and it is believed that the offer involves wages of £ 300,000 a week .

It is understood Rooney 's camp are not quite so certain about how negotiations will end , but they are "open-minded" and willing to listen to United 's offer .

Sources at Old Trafford maintain that marks a significant change in stance from the player, and that his representatives had previously rejected repeated attempts to open negotiations .

Those close to Rooney, however, insist that was never the case .The player's representatives merely wanted to "wait and see" how the season developed .

Rooney also wished to judge who United signed in this window, and what sort of position that would leave in as regards Champions League qualification .

The signing of Juan Mata is undeniably a statement from United, and it was noted that Rooney had followed the Spaniard on twitter over the past few days .

United 's spending also looks set to continue, with manager David Moyes targeting at least one , if not two signings by Friday 's transfer deadline . United want a midfielder and a replacement for Patrice Evra .

A 22 million pound bid has been tabled for Southampton's Luke Shaw, while a number of options are being surveyed for the center of the pitch .

As reported by ESPN last week, United have initiated a contact for Juventus' Arturo Vidal but are also interested in Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan and Bayern Munich's Toni Kroos .

Even if United do not manage to secure any one of those signings this window, they will remain interested in the summer, and see Newcastle United 's Yohan Cabaye as a potential medium -term option.

Ferguson backs United under Moyes

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United will come strong during the second half of the season after struggling under new manager David Moyes .

Ferguson selected Moyes as his replacement after 26 years in charge at Old Trafford , but the former Everton boss has endured a difficult time as manager of the reigning Premier League champions , with United currently in seventh spot and 14 points off table- toppers Arsenal.

And after a third round exit in the FA Cup to Swansea and a defeat on penalties to Sunderland in midweek in the Semifinals in the Capital One Cup , Moyes is under pressure to deliver a trophy in his first season, with the Champions League and the Premier League the only competitions United will be playing in for the rest of the campaign.

But Ferguson feels his former side can recover and mount a strong challenge to the end of the season .

" United can do anything . They have got that great philosophy and history , they will always do well, " he told Sky Sports News. "I can watch the team whenever I want and I've really enjoyed it . I'm going as a supporter now and instead of suffering with the team , I'm suffering or enjoying it with the fans . I'm Really enjoying watching the team play . "

And Ferguson , who has accepted a coaching ambassador role at UEFA, believes Manchester City will be the team to stop in the Premier League , although he expects the title fight to be a close one . " This year for the first time it really looks as if five or six could be Involved , so it 's a great Premier League , " he said.

" It's still not an easy league to win . I think the English game is the most honest and is the hardest league to win in terms of the competition you face. You can lose to anyone .

" You have to say Manchester City are playing so well, there is no dispute about that, but the teams at the top at the minute must have a big chance .

" Arsenal must have a big chance . Everyone keeps writing them off, saying they won't last , but we're into the second half of the season and they are still there . Then you've got Chelsea , Everton, Tottenham , who are starting to do well . United always do well in the second half of the season, so we've got a fantastic league and we should be proud of that . "

CR7 'thought' about United

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he did " think about " Manchester United during your the summer as the club waged a campaign to re -sign him from Real Madrid . Ronaldo left United for Madrid for 80 million pounds in 2009 , but during the summer the Premier League champions had invested significant effort in attempting to persuade the Portugal forward to return to Old Trafford.

Rio Ferdinand recently revealed that he had made ​​a personal effort to try to convince his former teammate to make the switch but , ultimately , Ronaldo committed to a new five -year contract at the Bernabeu in September and said at the time: "Everyone knows I was in Manchester for six years, but Manchester is in the past . "

Speaking after he claimed the 2013 Ballon d'Or on Monday night , Ronaldo told The Times that Ferdinand had been in regular contact over a transfer and insisted he had given thought to the prospect of a return .

"It is true Rio and I spoke a lot [ in the summer ] , " Ronaldo said. " Rio is a great friend of mine . We played together for many years at Manchester United. We were neighbors when I was there in Manchester . He is a fantastic guy and he tried to change my mind to go back to Manchester .

"I did think about United. They are still in my heart . It is a club where i played for six years and I love that club . I have a lot of friends there and I wish them all the best . "

Ronaldo added that, after enjoying an excellent year on a personal level , he is now hoping to earn silverware with Madrid and Portugal .

" I hope to do better than last year this season, " he said. " I am going to try to do my best to win trophies with Madrid and my country . This season is a challenge for me. "

Claudio Marchisio Got Permission

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has brushed aside speculation linking midfielder Claudio Marchisio with a move to Manchester United. United have long been credited with an interest in Marchisio , 27 , as David Moyes looks to bolster his midfield in January .

Moyes was even present to watch the Italy international reportedly play for Juventus in their 4-1 win over Cagliari on Sunday .

But while Marotta is aware of the attention has been attracting the midfielder , he is adamant that Marchisio will be still be at the club come the end of the month .

He told Radio Rai : "There is no problem with Marchisio . Claudio is a player who grew up in the Juventus youth teams and he loves the shirt.

" During a busy season, it is inevitable that's every player will have their lows , but everything is normal . "

Fellows Juventus midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba have also been linked with a move away from the club , with the former 's contract set to expire at the end of the season .

However, Marotta was once again insistent that's both players will be staying put at the Turin club .

He added: " Pirlo 's contract ? He said last week that he feels happy here . We have talked with each other and in February we will find a solution to continue together .

" Pogba ? We do not want to sell him and we close the door to any buyers of this writing . "

Solskjaer Quiet On United Pair

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remained coy when asked of his interest in Manchester United duo Wilfried Zaha and Fabio. The former United striker has already brought in midfielders Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Mats Moller Daehli from Heerenveen and former club Molde respectively, but is still hoping to add to his squad this month. 

The Bluebirds have been linked with moves for Zaha and Fabio, with both struggling to gain regular first-team football. However, Solskjaer refused to state if there was any truth behind such speculation. 

"I can't say anything on them [Zaha and Fabio] because they are players from Manchester United and I can't comment on players from other teams," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "I am looking at strengthening my squad, but I can't say names. 

"It is not about the number. I will work with the players I have here but if the right one come up then I will do business like I have with Magnus and Mats." 

Solskjaer was also keen to stress that's he is not looking to replicate his former United side at Cardiff, after being linked the Red Devils duo. 

"No, I'm creating a new Cardiff," he said. "We need our own identity, it's not about emulating or copying anyone else, we want to play football. 

"I want to develop Cardiff into a team everyone can be proud of the way they play football - that we can dominate games like we have done at home a few times this season. 

"It's not about copying anyone else, but obviously I want players I can trust and can play the way I want to."