Stuart Brennan

June 24, 2009

ZORAN Tosic has been enjoying a small summer window of opportunity ahead of his giant task at United next season.

While candidates to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, either already at Old Trafford or on the Reds' transfer radar, have been off on holiday, the 22-year-old Serbian has been in Sweden starring in the European Under-21 Championships.

With Fergie's spies monitoring the tournament Tosic, who started his third game in Tuesday night's 3-1 defeat to Sweden, has been able to steal a march on rivals like Nani and Wigan's Antonio Valencia.

United reserve coach Ole Solskjaer has passed on his observations of Tosic to the Reds boss.

The Norwegian's opinion is well respected by Ferguson and the Red legend knows him well after nurturing the January arrival in the second string.

Tosic was part of a £15m package from Partizan Belgrade in the New Year transfer window that will see teenage midfielder Adem Ljajic move to England next winter.

The winger made two surprise sub appearances for United's first team within days of his arrival from Serbia.

But after appearing against Spurs and West Brom he spent the rest of the campaign in Solksjaer's charge.

Tosic arrived with the nickname Bambi which understandably many believed was due to his spindly legs.

Physique

But it was a throwback to the days as a kid when his mother sent him off to training with biscuits shaped like the Disney deer!

He knew there would be question marks over his physique and said: "I'm sure nobody from Manchester thinks I'm a player who is good in physical battles, tackling or jumping.

"They saw my other characteristics. The others can be super-imposed to make me a real player, but the qualities I already have aren't easy to super-impose on others."

Fergie compared him more to a box-to-box winger like a David Beckham rather than Ronaldo. Some have likened his willingness to get up and down the pitch to Ryan Giggs and the older generation have compared him to Steve Coppell.

Tosic will be his own man and has now got used to the bumps and bruises that were the welcome card he got in England.

"In a few games for the reserves, the players kicked me and I was wondering what is going on - I am going home, I cannot play here," he said.

"Then I got through that, and now it's normal for me. My best position is on the wing, either one. My left foot is stronger but I can play on the right and come inside.

"The people from Manchester think I can play better on the left side."

Tosic will have a mini-break after the Under-21 competition but has already targeted United's opening pre-season match against a Malaysian XI in the Bukit Jalil Stadium on July 18 as the start of his major challenge.

The Reds kick off their warm up for the new campaign in the Far East.

"When we go on tour I hope I'm going to get a chance and I'm ready. I want to try to have a breakthrough," said Tosic.

"Everybody's wondering if I can replace Ryan Giggs, if I can adapt to the tempo. I'm not bothered by that, really. I've never been afraid in my life, and I'm not afraid now."

ENGLAND under-21s will play hosts Sweden in the European Championships semi-finals on Friday with Italy facing Germany in the other game.

Stuart Mathieson

June 24, 2009

KARIM Benzema will return from holiday this Sunday and consider his future.

United have got the Lyon French international striker at the top of their hit list.

But the 21-year-old has indicated he is happy to remain at the Stade Gerland for another year.

The Reds are ready to test Benzema's resolve as they pursue goalscoring replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

Once he's back from his summer break the hitman will be brought up to date on the club's chasing his signature and the fact that Lyon have hinted that a big money offer would have to be seriously considered.

Benzema has been content at his hometown club and happy within a family atmosphere that promotes local products.

A move to Old Trafford would tick those boxes as opposed to the new Galactico era at Real Madrid who are also in the hunt for more firepower even though they've signed Kaka, Ronaldo and are set to capture Valencia's David Villa.

Reports in Wednesday's papers continue to link the Reds with a move for Sergio Aguero.

Transfer

And Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has heard nothing from United or any other club about a possible transfer and sees his long-term future at the Bernabeu.

Reports in the both the Spanish and English media suggested United were looking to invest some of the £80million they are set to receive from Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo on Euro 2008 winner Casillas.

However, Casillas was quoted by AS as saying: “There is absolutely nothing, neither from United nor another club. Neither my agent nor Madrid have informed me of any offer, and nobody has called me either.

“It’s speculation, which is what happens when the transfer market is open.”

Meanwhile, United are set to launch their new home strip on July 1.

Designed to celebrate 100 years at Old Trafford, the new jersey is red with a shallow black `V' on the front.

The centenary of the stadium will be celebrated next February. The kit United wore at the time was white with a deep red `V' on the front of the shirt.

Phil Brown is hoping Fraizer Campbell will heed Sir Alex Ferguson's advice and agree a move to Hull City.

Manchester United have accepted an offer from Hull for Campbell, who is currently with the England squad at the European Under 21 Championship in Sweden.

The striker plans to wait until the tournament is over before deciding on his future after North East rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland were also linked with bids.

Tigers boss Brown is optimistic he can persuade Campbell to return to the KC Stadium after the youngster's impressive loan spell during the 2007/08 season.

And Brown is hoping his cause will be boosted after revealing United boss Ferguson is recommending Campbell agrees on a deal with Hull.

Best move

"Sometimes a young lad's head can get turned by interest from other clubs and I'm convinced that other clubs will be interested in Fraizer," Brown told the Hull Daily Mail.

"But the beauty of the whole deal is that I firmly believe Sir Alex Ferguson has the lad's best interests at heart with regards to his future.

"For him to recommend to Fraizer that Hull City is the best move for him speaks volumes for us.

"Hopefully he'll take a lot of notice of that advice."

Giuseppe Rossi is in talks with Villarreal over a contract extension but would still be ready to move to a 'great club', according to his agent.

Rossi has impressed since joining Villarreal from Manchester United in 2007 and has also produced some good performances at the Confederations Cup for Italy.

The 22-year-old has made no secret of his desire to return to Serie A and speculation is rife that Juventus are monitoring the situation.

But Rossi is keeping his options open and is negotiating a new deal with Villarreal, even though his current contract does not expire until 2013.

"He has a complicated situation," Rossis' representative Federico Pastorello told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"He's happy where he is, we are negotiating a new contract with Villarreal.

"But without a shadow of a doubt he is a player who, the moment an offer from a great club should come in, would certainly answer 'yes'.

"If this club should be Italian, all the better, because he feels Italian in every way."

Manchester United have first refusal on their former forward if Villarreal do decide to sell Rossi.