Reds eye two classy birds

UNITED are set to bid for Newcastle’s stylish French midfielder Yohann Cabaye and Swansea captain Ashley Williams, according to today’s rumours.

The Daily Express says Arsenal and United are set to battle it out for Magpies midfielder Cabaye in the summer.

The Frenchman has impressed since making the move to St James’ Park in 2011 from Lille for £4.8 million, and has been linked with a move to one of the Premier League’s top four for some time.

The Express says United’s perennial search for a creative midfielder has seen them linked with a host of players and were reportedly interested in landing the Frenchman at the start of the season, while Cabaye himself claiming Tottenham tried to make a move for him last summer.

Toon boss Alan Pardew has previously admitted he would be powerless to stop a bigger club poaching Newcastle’s best players in the past – but has warned that if United want Cabaye to be the ‘next Paul Scholes’ it would cost them ‘a shedload of money’.

However according to the Express, Arsenal are firmly in the hunt for his signature too as they look to overhaul their squad in the summer with a £70 million transfer budget.

Meanwhile, United are reportedly weighing up a move for the man who ‘could have killed’ Robin van Persie, reports the Sunday People’s Dave Kidd.

Williams, who captained the Swans to League Cup glory against Bradford yesterday, is a known target of Liverpool, with former boss Brendan Rodgers a huge admirer.

But now Ferguson, who was raging about Williams kicking the ball at a grounded Van Persie during December’s clash at the Liberty Stadium, is keeping close tabs on the Wales centre-back as he looks to revamp his defence.

Table-topping United have conceded 31 goals in 26 Premier League games this season.

Rio Ferdinand is a close friend of Williams but his Old Trafford future is unclear while Nemanja Vidic’s injuries over the past two seasons have caused concern.

Although 28-year-old Williams would cost at least £10million, Ferguson sees him as a potential experienced replacement after an outstanding 18 months in the top flight with the Swans.

Williams is under contract until 2015, an agreement which was signed only in October, and is believed to earn around £25,000 a week.

So Swansea would demand top dollar for a player who has also been the subject of bids from Newcastle and QPR since he arrived in the Premier League.

RedArmy is Britain’s biggest Manchester United Magazine.
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