Manchester United are preparing to make a move for Wigan Athletic midfielder Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian international has been strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in recent weeks, however United are now ready to make a £15 million bid for the player.

Valencia, 23, has been, without doubt, one of Wigan’s top performers this season and has now caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson. The Premier League Champions are keen to strengthen their midfield during this transfer window and Valencia is now seen as an ideal candidate to arrive at Old Trafford in the coming weeks.

With Wigan currently sitting nicely in 7th in the Premier League, should Valencia leave, it will no doubt have a negative affect on the Latics position in the league. Personally, I think Valencia would be a decent signing for United. I have been impressed at how well Valencia has adapted to the pace of English football since his arrival at Wigan back in 2006 and I feel should he join the Red Devils he could prove value for money.

If he’s good enough for United then he is probably good enough for you. If he is then I recommend you sign him for your “You the Manager” team. He costs just £4 million and in my eyes, that is a real bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some cracking prizes.

Manchester United are to battle it out with Tottenham for Wigan Athletic midfielder Wilson Palacios. Spurs had a £10 million bid rejected for the 23-year old on Wednesday evening, however Harry Redknapp is likely to come back with an improved offer in the coming days, however he is now likely to face competition from United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Both United and Spurs are keen to bolster their midfield options during this month’s transfer window and Palacios is now understood to be high on both club’s wish-lists. The Honduras international has played a major role in the Latics great start to the season which sees them sitting in 7th in the Premier League and it would not doubt come as a massive blow to Steve Bruce should he leave.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said yesterday evening that £10 million was not enough for a player like Palacios and that anyone wanting to sign him would have to pay a lot more. Both United and Spurs are ready make bids thought to be around £14 million, a fee that may be enough to land the former Birmingham City man. Personally, I think Palacios would be a terrific signing for either Spurs or United. He is a superb midfield player who certainly isn’t afraid of a challenge.

Manchester United have this afternoon hammered Chelsea to move into third place in the Premier League title. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford to move just five points behind leaders Liverpool with two games in hand.

Nemanja Vidic opened the scoring with just seconds left in the first-half. Ryan Giggs’ corner was glanced on by Dimitar Berbatov at the near post to Vidic who was waiting on the edge of the six-yard box to head home the opener.

United doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Wayne Rooney got on the end of a lovely Patrice Evra cross. And the home side weren’t finished just yet. Summer signing Dimitar Bertbatov made it three with just minutes to go when he directed a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick beyond Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.

Impressive result for United. Personally, I thought this was going to be a close encounter between two terrific sides, however United made it look so easy. Chelsea never really looked like getting anything from the game and this result will no doubt leave the Blues felling humiliated. Elsewhere today, Tottenham were beaten 1-0 away at Wigan.

Manchester United are officially the best club in the world after winning the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men ran out 1-0 winners over Ecuadorian side Liga De Quito thanks to a goal from Wayne Rooney.

The Premier League Champions found it difficult to break down their opponents for large parts, however they finally made the break through with twenty minutes left on the clock. Cristiano Ronaldo laid the ball to Rooney, who in turn expertly finished from the edge of the box.

Despite the win, it’s not all good news for United. Nemanja Vidic was shown a straight red card just after the break and may face a suspension. Great achievement by United, however I just hope that this doesn’t affect their bid for the title this season because things like this can often have a negative affect on the team’s league form.

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has today claimed he was just inches away from joining Premier League rivals Arsenal. The Portuguese winger joined United back in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon and has since gone on the become the best player in the world, however it could of all been so different for him.

Ronaldo, 23, has only recently been crowned the winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or and is widely regarded as the greatest player in the world. Since joining United Ronaldo has made over 250 appearances for the club, scoring an astonishing 101 goals in the process, however today he has admitted he could of joined one of United’s biggest rivals.

Before Ronaldo left Sporting all them years ago, he apparently spoke with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. He told French magazine France-Football : “I saw Arsene Wenger three times with my mother. I was just an inch away from signing for Arsenal.” What a difference one signing can make. Could you imagine if Ronaldo had actually of signed for Arsenal. I don’t personally think United would of won the Champions League last season, or even the Premier League.

Now would be a good time to have Ronaldo in your team. Cristiano costs just £8 million in this season’s “You the Manager” and personally, I feel that’s a bargain. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific monthly and weekly prizes.

Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez is ready to leave Old Trafford to join La Liga giants Real Madrid. The Argentine international is understood to be fed up with sitting on the bench at the Premier League Champions and is now preparing for a January exit.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has always spoke of his desire [...]

Manchester United have today beaten local rivals Manchester City 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium, however the main talking point has to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card. Wayne Rooney grabbed the only goal of the game to hand United all three points but it was Ronaldo who grabbed all the headlines.
The Portuguese winger was [...]

Liverpool and Manchester City have today joined Tottenham in the race to sign Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. The England international has been heavily linked with a January exit from the Riverside, with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp understood to be winning the race, however now both Mark Hughes and Rafa Benitez are ready to start a massive bidding war for the player.

The 24-year old only recently signed a new long-term deal at Boro which will keep him at the club until 2013 and Gareth Southgate has recently spoke of his desire to keep Downing at the club. Downing has been at Boro for over seven years now since joining back in 2001 and has since gone on to make over 180 appearances for the club.

It appears unlikely now that he will remain a Boro player any longer with Benitez, Redknapp and Hughes all prepared to meet the club’s valuation of £12 million for the player. Personally, I feel that on his day, there is no better left winger in the Premier League than Downing, however for me he doesn’t have enough of those days. I think a lot of people will agree with me when I say, he is a bit overrated and that whoever does eventually sign him may be making a big mistake.

Either Liverpool, Spurs or City will have to pay more than £5.5 million for Downing, but you won’t. Yes, the former Sunderland man costs just that in this season’s “You the Manager” and he may be worth a look. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.

Yes, during a poll that has been running on Football Corner over the past week or so, you the readers were unanimous in your decision. We asked you whether or not you thought the FA’s “Respect the Ref” campaign was working and the answer by some distance was no.

Here is the full result of the poll :

No – 40 votes (67%)
Kind of - 10 votes (17%)
Yes – 9 votes (16%)

Total Votes : 59

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted and I would encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll. Who will be top of the Premier League on Christmas day? The poll can be found on the top right of the site, so place your votes now.

Tottenham and Arsenal have today been linked with a move for Fulham defender Brede Hangeland. The Norwegian defender is stalling a signing a new contract at Craven Cottage and now both Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger are keen to take advantage of the situation.

The former FC Copenhagen man has been one of Fulham’s top performers this season and has caught the attentions of both North London clubs. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is desperate to bring a new centre-back to the Emirates come January, with William Gallas likely to depart after his recent troubles.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been linked with several defenders since arriving at the club, however Hangeland is now seen as a possible acquisition. I have always thought that Hangeland has never really got the credit he deserves because he has been brilliant since arriving the Premier League. He is only 27 and I feel he would be a very decent signing for either Spurs or Arsenal.

Hangeland must be worth a look in this season’s “You the Manager”. The 6ft 5in defender costs just £3 million and I would strongly really recommend you put him in your team. So follow the link below to enter your team to be in with a chance of winning some terrific weekly and monthly prizes.