PALERMO are eyeing a summer loan move for Manchester United starlet Federico Macheda.

Starsport has learned that the Serie A club failed in an initial attempt to lure the teenager back to Italy during the January transfer window.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rejected Palermo’s advances as Macheda was still suffering from the calf injury sustained in December.

But Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini is still keeping tabs on Macheda and is considering a renewed loan swoop in the summer.

United plan to trim their wage bill in the summer by letting a number of players leave either on loan or permanently.

Ferguson strengthened his attacking options last week with the capture of Mexican striker Javier Hernandez and may look to bolster his forward line further in the summer in a bid to ease the goalscoring burden on Wayne Rooney.

Palermo are currently fourth in Serie A and are hoping to seal champions League qualification, which they hope can lure Macheda to the Rosanero.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up his efforts to recruit French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar.

Ferguson will have the 23-year-old watched as his club Lyon play Bordeaux on Saturday after identifying the French international as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe.

The United boss has been consulting goalkeeping coach Eric Steele about a replacement for Van der Sar and is expected to try and tie up a £15m deal with Lyon before the World Cup.

The French club are unwilling to negotiate until they have played their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich - who are looking to sign United's other target Manuel Neuer from Schalke.

Dimitar Berbatov's agent, meanwhile, says the striker does not want to leave United.

Emil Danchev said: 'Sir Alex has already made his opinion known on this. I do not think he has to re-affirm his confidence in him every other day. I prefer to trust Ferguson.'

On Wednesday, the 'Red Knights' group of businessmen hoping to make a bid for United met in London to put together exact details of their offer.

Wayne Rooney has been installed as the overwhelming favourite to land the PFA player of the year award following the release of the short-list.

The Manchester United star has enjoyed an outstanding season, even if it appears his success at club level will be limited to the Carling Cup.

Rooney has scored 34 goals for United this term and has catapulted himself among the true world-class talents.

If Rooney did win, it would be the fourth time on the trot a member of the Old Trafford camp had received the accolade, following on from Ryan Giggs last year, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was player of the year in the two seasons before that.

Rooney does have some competition, although the usual six-man shortlist has been trimmed to four.

Like Rooney, Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has been selected for both the main award, and the young player of the year prize.

Although he has been sidelined for the rest of the season by injury, Fabregas held together a Gunners' title challenge that twice seemed to have collapsed before Tottenham almost certainly snuffed it out last night.

As champions-elect, Chelsea were bound to have a representative, and while he might not have hit the heights as consistently as in other years, Didier Drogba's goals ensured the Stamford Bridge outfit came through their rocky patch and are now in line to become only the seventh team to land the domestic double.

Manchester City's emergence as a Premier League force is also confirmed by the presence of Carlos Tevez, who has been such a pivotal figure for the Blues since his controversial summer move from neighbours United.

City also have a representative for the young player prize, although in Joe Hart's case that has only happened following a successful loan move to Birmingham.

Aston Villa's James Milner is the fourth name on that list, testament to his outstanding form for Martin O'Neill's men, which seems certain to earn him a place in Fabio Capello's England World Cup squad.

PFA Players' Player of the Year nominees:
Carlos Tevez
Cesc Fabregas
Didier Drogba
Wayne Rooney

Young Player of the Year nominees:
Cesc Fabregas
James Milner
Joe Hart
Wayne Rooney

enjoy the ride.. for now.

it is a funny and dubious season. it says a lot when our 3rd highest goalscorer is Mr. Own Goal. We need someone to lift that burden on Rooney. He has done much for us.

Owen is not that bad but he is injury prone. Macheda is too young and far inexperienced. Berbatov, hmm .. I have no words for him. Positives are, Nani and Valencia are turning up as well. Rafael is becoming more and more established. I am not angry at him for the sent offs. He is young. He will learn his ways.

Now, lets just hope that our CMs will turn up next season. Fletcher is out of the question. He has been the driving force for us numerous times. The likes of Carrick, Anderson and Gibson worries me. Their form fluctuates from time to time.

BTW, watched the highlights of our reserves' match. I am quite impressed with Possebon.