United eye Real’s French star and other red-hot gossip

Manchester United are eyeing Real Madrid star Lassana Diara. The holding midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeau recently and the Red Devils are hoping to nab him with a £21m bid. Diara, who is part of France’s World Cup squad, joined Real from Portsmouth two years ago. He also played for Arsenal and Chelsea earlier in his career. Elsewhere, Arsenal are hot onthe heels of tough Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who is part of France's World Cup squad; Liverpool are mulling over an £8m move for Valencia's 21-year-old Argentine midfielder Ever Banega; Chelsea are willing to pay £14m for Manchester City misfit Stephen Ireland, who will likely replace Joe Cole; and Tottenham will swoop for England goalkeeper David James after the World Cup.