Manchester United Vow to Keep Bulgarian Striker Berbatov

The chief executive of Manchester United, David Gill assured the club does not plan to sell Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov over the summer. Gill said in an interview for the British “The Independent” that keeping Berbatov, who had been the subject of many transfer speculations, is also the personal desire of the Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Gill's expectation of the summer was that "some will leave, some will come in" and "there won't be any major players leaving". Whether the definition of "major" includes the out-of-favor Michael Carrick or Luis Anderson can be debated but Gill does not envisage the club selling Berbatov, who has not fulfilled the expectations of him when he joined from Tottenham, The Independent writes.

"He (Berbatov) has three years left on his contract. It is two years plus an option for us. We spent a lot of money on him. We have no real desire to sell him. He will be there next season and Alex has been clear on that. He gets a bit of a difficult press in some respects," Gill is quoted saying.

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Javier Hernandez acquires permit to seal Man Utd move

The 22-year-old, who is set to travel with his country to this summer's World Cup finals, had agreed terms with United and passed a medical in April. United have not disclosed the fee for Hernandez, but he is believed to have cost somewhere in the region of £6-8m.

He will officially join the Red Devils on 1 July. The diminutive forward - affectionately known in Mexico as 'Chicharito', which roughly translates as 'little sweet pea' - scored in Mexico's 2-1 friendly defeat to the Netherlands in Freiburg, Germany on Wednesday.

He also featured in the second half of his country's previous friendly, the 3-1 reverse at the hands of England at Wembley on Monday.When the deal was initially struck, United manager.

Sir Alex Ferguson described Hernandez as "an exciting young striker". "He has been in prolific form for both his club and his country," Ferguson added at the time. "He will be a great addition to our squad."

Hernandez is scheduled to join Ferguson's squad in mid-July for the Philadelphia leg of United's pre-season tour of the United States and Canada. And on 30 July he is scheduled to appear against his former club Chivas in a match to open their new 45,000-seat stadium.

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Manchester United Ponder €21 Million Bid For Barcelona's Yaya Toure

Manchester United are reportedly set to offer €21 million to prise Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure away from Barcelona. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to be keen to strengthen United's midfield given the constant injuries plaguing Owen Hargreaves and the loss of form from the likes of Michael Carrick and Anderson.

A report in Spanish publication Sport claims that Ferguson has identified the 27-year-old as a key target in bolstering United's capabilities in the middle of the park, particularly from a defensive viewpoint.

While Barca coach Pep Guardiola is said to be keen to retain the services of Toure, reports yesterday stated that the Catalan outfit would consider releasing the player for a fee of €30-35 million.

As a result of dropping own the pecking order, Toure is believed to be seeking a move away from Camp Nou and potential suitors from the English Premier League would be keen to wrap up a deal prior to the World Cup to avoid the player's value soaring after the finals.

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Glazer family to keep cash in Manchester United coffers - for now

The legion of Green and Gold protesters and Red Knights watching Manchester United for signs of the Glazers' next move will have to wait a little longer than this Friday's financial update to bond holders for evidence of the family's plans for tackling the club's £712 million debts. It is understood that the update, published as a condition of the club's £500 million bond issue, will show that the family have not taken revenue generated by the club to reduce their £212 million payment-in-kind (PIK) loans in the first quarter of this year.

It is also understood that they have no plans to take out any money for the PIK loans in the rest of this financial year, which finishes at the end of June, and insiders say the club have not been made aware of any plans to do so in the immediate future. The Glazers' decision to leave club revenues untouched this season, save for around £50 million due in interest to bond holders, is significant because of the expectation that, at some stage, the Glazers will tackle the fiercely expensive PIK loans.

One of the primary reasons for issuing the bond was to free the family from restrictive covenants on the bank debts that prevented them from tackling the PIKs which, at their current interest rate of 16 per cent rolled-up annually, could grow to £600 million by maturity if they are not paid off.

The terms of the bond allows the Glazers to take anything up to £95 million out of the club in dividends in the first year, offering the family the opportunity to make an immediate and significant reduction in the PIK debt.

That they have not, for now at least, and a series of briefings following five years of almost total silence offers some insight into the Glazers' thinking as they face unprecedented opposition and the prospect, albeit fading, of an offer from the Red Knights.

The public relations benefits of not taking the dividends are clear. With Sir Alex Ferguson's United squad in obvious need of refreshment and supporters suspicious that the £80 million proceeds from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo has already been swallowed up, a summer raid on club revenues would confirm every prejudice about the family's intentions.

The family's spokesman and insiders offer no insight in to the ultimate strategy for reducing the PIK debt, which is surely inevitable, but they are supremely confident that the club's ballooning commercial strength will rapidly make the debt burden less onerous.

Commercial revenue, presently only worth 60 per cent of match-day and media revenues, is forecast to outstrip both within five years, thanks largely to a strategy of targeting regional sponsorship deals.

The club's database of supporter information is also proving hugely valuable and the mobile phone and, irony of ironies, financial services sector are thought to offer the greatest opportunity for growth.

It is implausible that the dividends will not be taken up at some stage but, given the confidence displayed in recent days, the Glazers have no plans to depart any time soon.

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Everton starlet Jack Rodwell snubs Manchester United interest and signs new five-year deal

The news is a huge blow to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who regards 19-year-old Rodwell as the next big thing in English football and a future international star. But it will delight Goodison boss David Moyes, who lost Wayne Rooney to United in a £27million deal after he starred at Euro 2004 as an 18-year-old. United had been prepared to pay around £15m for Rodwell, whose wages increase to more than £20,000 a week. Rodwell is primarily a midfielder although he is also comfortable in the centre of defence. He scored his first goal for Everton at 17 and scored his side's third goal in a 3-1 win over United earlier this season. He has now played more than 50 times for the Goodison Park club.

Moyes has said the player could develop into the next Rio Ferdinand, stating: 'He's so comfortable on the ball. He is best in central midfield at the moment but by the time he's 23 or 24, he may be a top centre-half. 'Rio started in central midfield and eventually moved back. Jack has similar qualities. He's so laid-back, he is horizontal.'Rodwell only signed a five-year contract in February last year but due to his progress and interest from other clubs Everton have rewarded him with an improved deal. Only last week Moyes warned his players that leaving Everton was not always the route to success.

'Some of the players who have left Everton might say it was the right place for them after all,' said the Scot. 'At the end of their careers, they might look back and say Everton was the best time - they enjoy it here.

'Even Thomas Gravesen, who went to Real Madrid, would say the same thing. There are lots of players who are going to look back at Everton and say they had a really good time, without winning anything obviously.'

Rodwell said he had never taken any notice of speculation about his future and had always been committed to Everton.

'I'm perfectly happy at the club and I'm very happy to be signing a new deal,' he said.

'I have enjoyed every minute of being at this club and I try not to look at speculation that much, I just try to play my best on the pitch.'

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Pienaar alerts Manchester United and Tottenham by rejecting Everton deal

The 28-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and unless he signs a contract extension for David Moyes' side, the South African international will soon be available for free. Should Everton choose to cash in, Tottenham and Manchester United are said to be leading the chase.

Moyes is keen to keep his side together and tie down players like Pienaar to Goodison Park. However, the Daily Mail reports that Pienaar rejected an offer from Everton two weeks ago and has not heard from the club since.

Talking to the South Afircan media, he said, "Yes, I'd say the spirit of discussions was very good, but we have differing valuations, so my future isn't clear. I don't know. Everton may keep me for the last year of my deal. But they could sell me too. If they decide to sell, and the move is correct for my career, then I'll consider it. Hopefully this hasn't been my last season at Goodison. But in football, who knows?"

According to media reports earlier this month, Tottenham officials have already contacted Everton officials regarding Pienaar, while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be an admirer of the midfielder. Either side would have to part with an estimated £18 million for Pienaar's signature, according to the Daily Mail.

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