French striker in United’s sights

French striker Karim Benzema is firmly on Manchester United's radar. According to reports, the Red Devils are prepared to pay £20m for the Real Madrid flop. Speaking on the eve of United’s crunch clash with Sunderland on Sunday, Red Devils chief executive David Gill confirmed: "I can look you in the eye and tell you straight that we have the transfer funds available to the manager. Targets have been discussed already, as you'd expect, but it's not our style to talk about names and it never will be." United tried to sign Benzema from Lyon last summer but were snubbed when he chose to join Real for £35m. He has however failed to command a regular place at Real completing only four matches all season. United have already signed £8m Mexican striker Javier Hernandez and £10m Fulham defender Chris Smalling for next season.

Mourinho to nab two EPL stars for Real and other red-hot gossip

Jose Mourinho will make two sensational signings if he becomes the new Real Madrid coach next season. According to reports, Mourinho will lure Frank Lampard and Carlos Tevez away from Chelsea and Manchester City respectively when he leaves Inter Milan and moves to the Bernabeau in the summer. Elsewhere, Valencia striker David Villa is set to join Barcelona for £30m despite interest from Manchester United and Chelsea; Manchester United are keeping a close eye on Chelsea’s Joe Cole and Everton's Steven Pienaar; Chelsea are eyeing an £18m bid for Valencia's 25-year-old Spanish winger Pablo Hernandez; and Arsenal want West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, Aston Villa James Milner and central defenders Brede Hangeland of Fulham and Gary Cahill of Bolton.

Fergie blasts EPL over fixture list

Sir Alex Ferguson has lashed out at the EPL over the end-of-season fixtures. The fiery Scot is annoyed that Liverpool tackle Chelsea just three days after their Europa League extra-time semi-final loss to Ateltico Madrid. Liverpool play the Blues at lunchtime on Sunday, while United take on Sunderland at 4pm. "To have to play a lunchtime kick-off after a Thursday game is not fair to the English teams,” moaned Ferguson. "It happens time and time again. It's happened to us and it's happened to the rest of them. We don't have that big a congestion of fixtures that we can't help a team out by one day.” Fergie said he would have preferred Liverpool to have played for 90 minutes on Thursday. “I have always said that I don't think teams get the proper help when they are in Europe. You are then depending on the resilience of the players."

Rome wasn’t built in a day - Mancini

Roberto Mancini has pleaded with Manchester City to allow him time to build a great team at Eastlands even if he does not secure the ambitious club a place in next season’s Champions League. The Blues are currently battling Tottenham and Aston Villa for the final Champions League place. “I want to stay here 200 per cent and if the owner wants me to stay, I will stay,” said the Italian on Friday. “When you want to build a good team you must have time. Every manager wants this. For this I think it’s important that I’m given the opportunity to build a team.” He added that he needed a pre-season to really mould the team he wants. “If I can work in pre-season I will know the players better. All managers need time.” Mancini won three successive Serie A titles in his previous job at Inter Milan.

Reina fumes at roll-over reports

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has scoffed at cynics who think the Reds will roll-over against Chelsea on Sunday so that Manchester United won’t claim a record 19th league title. With two matches to go Chelsea lead United by a single point and a win at Anfield will all but wrap up their third EPL title. Reina though is furious at suggestions that his teammates will hand the title on a platter to Chelsea. "They can think about whatever they want. If you are a professional, you will never play to lose or draw in any game. It's just not us,” fumed the Spaniard. "We need a win at home for our supporters. I don't care about Manchester United. We will try to win, and if we don't, it will be because we're playing Chelsea, a tough team fighting for the championship.”

Tevez shrugs off Real rumours

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has shrugged off reports linking him with a move to Real Madrid, claiming he is solely focussed on securing the Blues a place in next season’s Champions League. Questions have been raised over the Argentine’s future at Eastlands in recent weeks, with reports suggesting he is unhappy with manager Roberto Mancini’s training methods. "It does not matter to me if people talk about Real Madrid or any other big team in Europe,” Tevez hit back on Friday. "I am used to rumours and I will not allow them to distract me. My mind is only on my job at City and winning the games we have left. It is the same pressure as aiming to win titles with United or the battle to avoid relegation with West Ham. I am playing with the same effort and passion now as I was in those situations."

Spurs scoff at Modric rumours and other red-hot gossip

Tottenham are confident they can see off Manchester United's interest in star midfielder Luka Modric. United were earlier this week linked with a £25m move for the little Croatian, with many suggesting he had become Sir Alex Ferguson’s number one summer target. “He's not a player we should even be thinking about selling or want to sell if we want to progress as a club," Redknapp hit back. Elsewhere, Everton are in pole position to sign Leeds' Jermaine Beckford at the end of the season when he becomes a free agent; Sunderland hope to keep loan duo Alan Hutton from Tottenham and Lyon's John Mensah at the club next season; and Rafael Benitez could take charge of his last game at Liverpool on Sunday after a breakdown of trust with the Anfield board who think he is "playing games" over links with Juventus.