Big guns battle for starlet and other transfer rumours

Manchester United are preparing to pull out all the stops to sign young Everton star Jack Rodwell. The midfielder-cum-defender is one of the most prized talents in the EPL. But the Red Devils are in for a transfer scrap to get him with Chelsea already having offered £14m for the starlet. United value him at £16m, but Everton boss David Moyes will only start negotiating when the price goes over £20m. Elsewhere, Liverpool will fund a move for £15m-rated Hamburg striker Eljero Elia by fobbing off Andrea Dossena and Ryan Babel; Arsenal are weighing up a £5m bid for Hoffenheim's Brazilian midfielder Maicosuel; and Manchester City are on the verge of agreeing a £36m deal to sign Benfica midfielder Angel di Maria in January.