Man United head race for free agent Joe Cole

Manchester United have emerged as the new favourites to sign Joe Cole.

Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have put the Reds into pole position to sign Cole, with United one of three clubs offering the Chelsea play-maker a contract.

Cole will be a free agent when his current Stamford Bridge deal ends on July 1.

But although he has been unable to agree terms with Chelsea, he has been boosted by United’s offer, along with bids from Spurs and Italian giants Juventus

Cole, expected to be named in Fabio Capello’s final 23-man England squad for the World Cup on Tuesday, moved to Chelsea from West Ham in 2003.

At Stamford Bridge he has won three titles, two League Cups, and three FA Cups, and went within a whisker of winning the Champions League two years ago.

But the England midfielder’s bargaining position was weakened by a long injury lay-off and a loss of form last season, despite a stunning goal against United (right).

Chelsea are unwilling to put Cole into the same pay bracket as Frank Lampard and John Terry, leaving him to consider his future.

Spurs had been favourites to land him with boss Harry Redknapp, who worked with Cole at West Ham, able to offer Champions League football.

But Redknapp, who has been monitoring Cole’s situation over the last 18 months, privately fears the player has already opted to move to Old Trafford.

Manchester City had also shown interest but have now switched their attentions to Aston Villa star James Milner.

It leave United as favourites to prise away a player Fergie has admired ever since Cole’s time in the youth ranks at West Ham.

A year ago a Cole exit from Stamford Bridge would have seemed highly unlikely but yesterday Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti gave a hint why he sees the England man as expendable.

The Italian, who led Blues to their first-ever domestic Double last season, seems to believe he has a surplus of players who can do Cole’s job.

“The strength of a team is to have players with fantastic skills and players who can play in different positions on the pitch,” said Ancelotti.

“I have a lot of those – Ivanovic, Malouda, Lampard, Ballack, and Essien. Then there is Anelka, who can play up front or can play wide, Kalou is the same. This is a very important thing because you can change the shape.

“We changed the shape three times this season, without problem. We played the Christmas tree formation at the beginning and we had a lot of advantages. But after 15 games our opponents were able to cover the space between the lines in our team so we changed.

“We used two strikers and one offensive midfielder. Then, after the first half against Fulham at Christmas when we were losing, we changed to use two wingers to open the pitch and use all the space to attack. It is important to surprise your opponents.”

Cole and his Chelsea team-mates Lampard, Terry and Ashley Cole will head off to South Africa in peak condition according to Ancelotti.

Ancelotti (left) believes the tough Premier League programme has left his men battle-hardened, dismissing suggestions that they will be too tired to give their best.

He said: “The tempo of the matches here in England is higher but in Italy there is more pressure on each game so there is more stress. This takes more energy. In England there is less stress than in Italy, so physically you can do better.

“I can speak about my players. Frank Lampard, John Terry, Joe Cole and Ashley Cole are fit and physically they will do a fantastic World Cup.”

 

Glazers: United is not for sale

THE GLAZER family have told protesting Manchester United fans they are wasting their breath calling for the club to be sold.

Speculation has grown since the turn of the year about an offer from the Red Knights group aimed at seizing control of the debt-laden Old Trafford outfit.

The Glazers have maintained silence on the issue up to now, despite the growing presence of the green and gold campaign launched by fans in January.

But the American owners have now finally made their feelings public, dismissing talk of a sale out of hand.

A United statement said: "The board noted recent press speculation regarding a possible bid for Manchester United.

"The owners remain fully committed to their long-term ownership of the club. Manchester United is not for sale and the owners will not entertain any offers."

United protest will fade and die

MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive David Gill believes the green and gold movement will die out at Old Trafford.

United fans are attending games in increasing numbers decked out in the colours to protest against the way the Glazers are running the club.

But Gill insists the supporters will eventually realise the American owners are doing a good job.

The 52-year-old said: "The green and gold campaign and the momentum behind it can get a bit tiring.

"We understand people's desire to protest and I think it is a minority. It's a visible minority in the stadium.

"Would we prefer not to have the green and gold scarve? Yes.

"They have a right to protest. A lot of the fans clearly care about the club and that is a strength.

"But a lot of the other fans want to know that the team is playing attractive football, exciting Manchester United-style football, winning football.

"Who owns it is a bit irrelevant to them.

"I think that the green and gold minority will go away. A lot of people understand what it means but a lot of them don't."

Player review: Welbeck

Danny Welbeck offered fans of two clubs more glimpses of his undoubted talent in a season curtailed by a late knee injury...

Story of the season: Danny got his personal campaign underway in the Carling Cup third-round tie against Wolves in September, and wasted little time opening his goal account, scoring the winner in the 1-0 win. A week and a half later he made his only league start of the season in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland. He followed that by coming off the bench against Bolton in the next league game, and 10 days later he was back in the Carling Cup starting line-up. The fourth-round opponents were Barnsley, and again Welbeck was on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win. Next came another little milestone in his fledgling career – his Champions League debut. Danny won’t remember it too fondly, though, as United lost 1-0 at home to Besiktas, surrendering a proud home record in the process. Further starts came against Tottenham in the Carling Cup, Wolfsburg in the Champions League and Leeds in the FA Cup, as well as a couple of Premier League appearances from the bench. After the arrival of Mame Biram Diouf in January, Sir Alex allowed Danny to become his son Darren’s first acquisition for Preston. The loan move went well, with Danny notching twice in his first three games, but a knee injury in March cut short the loan deal and Danny’s season.

Finest moment: The move that led to his goal against Wolves was a masterpiece of attacking precision. Michael Carrick laid the ball into Welbeck, whose touch off to Michael Owen was returned into his path for a crisp one-two. The young marksman made no mistake with the finish, rifling the ball past Marcus Hahnemann into the right corner of the net.

What’s in store? Possibly another loan spell at Preston, where Ferguson Jnr was mighty impressed with his youthful charge, but Danny has repeatedly expressed his desire to break into regular first-team action. Once recovered from his injury, an important pre-season awaits…

Mexican star completes £7million Man United move

Javier Hernandez has completed his £7million move to Manchester United after being granted a work permit.

Although the Mexican striker failed to meet the necessary criterion of having played in 75 per cent of his country's games in the last two years,

United successfully argued at yesterday's hearing that he is an "exceptional talent".

Hernandez has joined United from Chivas Guadalajara and will be part of Mexico's squad at the World Cup.

 

Player review: Scholes

He may doubt his ability to continue at the highest level, but no-one else does...

Story of the season: Paul Scholes has long been the United player that fans of other clubs most admire. That’s partly because of his low profile, and the way he seems to get on with the job before popping up with a crucial goal or key contribution just when you’d forgotten he was even in the team. The midfielder, who turned 35 last November, had to be ushered away from thoughts of retirement, having felt the physical strains of 15 years playing at the top level. Whatever the aches and pains he feels, though, no-one would doubt that this is a player who is still at the top of his game. His habit of bagging important goals has also not deserted him. His strikes against Besiktas, Wolves and City were all the only goals of the game, and his contributions against Milan in the San Siro and City in the Carling Cup were further proof that the big players come good on the big occasions. Penning another year's contract extension provided a silver lining to the season.

Finest moment: The late, late header against City at Eastlands is another truly magical moment in a career packed full of them. A past master at ghosting in unnoticed to get on the end of crosses, he couldn’t have picked a better time to resume that habit.

What’s in store? Paul Scholes could surely play for Manchester United as long as he wants to. His game is not based on pace or physical prowess, so Sir Alex will surely do everything he can to keep him playing for another season or two at least. He is the kind of player whose value is only truly realised when he’s no longer there. Let’s hope that day is still a good while away.

 

Harry tells Alex: Hands off Luka

HARRY REDKNAPP last night told Manchester United: Luka Modric is not for sale at ANY price.

SunSport revealed United manager Alex Ferguson has made the Tottenham playmaker his major £25million summer target.

But Redknapp told his old mate Fergie: "There's no chance of it happening at all. Luka's key to everything that's happening at this place.

"Everybody knows what I think of him. And if you want to move on to higher levels you don't start flogging off your best players - to anyone."

Redknapp had been linked with Manchester City's Stephen Ireland as a midfield replacement for Modric.

But the Spurs boss said: "Stephen is undoubtedly a very good player but we have a lot of players who can fill that position. I like him but he won't be a target."

Despite previous interest, Redknapp insisted he will not move for £14m-rated Bolton defender Gary Cahill, who interests Arsenal.

He said: "I like the player, always have. But I am very happy with my defence.

"Michael Dawson and Ledley King have shown what they are all about by forcing their way into the England squad.

"I have an excellent squad and - I stress - Luka Modric is going to remain a part of it."

Modric helped Spurs clinch fourth place to grab a coveted Champions League berth.

The Croatia star, 24, said: "I thought at the time 'This is a big thing for us'. If we qualify for the group stages of the Champions League I'm sure this club will go on to another level."

READ the full Luka Modric interview in Hotspur, the official magazine of Tottenham Hotspur, out tomorrow.

TheSun