De Laet in Norwich medical

De Laet impressed during loan spells with Championship trio Preston, Sheffield United and Portsmouth last season.

The 22-year-old is highly-rated at Old Trafford and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes a loan spell in the Premier League is the next stage in the defender's development.

A number of clubs are believed to have expressed an interest in signing De Laet, but Norwich look set to win the race for his signature.

Canaries boss Paul Lambert is thought to be a big admirer of the Belgium international and is keen to bring him to Carrow Road.

The Premier League new boys have lined up a season-long loan deal for De Laet and if the former Stoke man seals the move he will become Norwich's fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of James Vaughan, Steve Morison and Elliott Bennett.

Paul Scholes considered Oldham Athletic move

The 36-year-old, who is a lifelong Latics fan, had spoken previously about the possibility of playing for the club at the end of his career.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "If Oldham would have been a possibility and I still felt great physically then I probably would have played on."

"The decision I made to retire was just the way I was feeling."

Instead of switching to Boundary Park, where Scholes still visits as a spectator, he will now take up a coaching role at Old Trafford.

Scholes made the last of his 676 appearances for the Red Devils in the 3-1 Champions League final defeat by Barcelona at Wembley last month.

The former England midfielder, who turned down Fabio Capello's invitation to come of out international retirement for last year's World Cup, said previously that his diminishing influence on the pitch was one of the main factors when he chose to stop playing.

"If I couldn't go to another club and play well and contribute to another team then I didn't see the point in doing that," he added.

Evra: I love this club

Patrice Evra signed a new deal with United after offers from top clubs all around Europe came in for him.

Evra has revealed that it is his feeling for the club that kept him around.

“It was an important decision for myself. I love this club, everyone knows that,” Evra told the official site. “I had a good meeting with Sir Alex and I talked to my family. I decided to follow my heart and my heart told me to stay here.”

The players are United are winners, so it’s not strange for any of them to be looking to the next challenge. Before even being awarded the trophy in Moscow, Ryan Giggs was telling the players that they had to focus on being in the European Cup final the next season too. Evra has claimed he is already looking to our next trophy, after winning a record 19th title last month.

“I’m already focused on next season and winning the league again. Some people say to me: ‘Pat you’re like a robot – you have to enjoy the moment more.’ Sometimes I have the feeling that I haven’t enjoyed the moment, but I’m like that, I want to move on to the next challenge and enjoy it all when I have finished.”

Manchester United executives meet in Barcelona to seal £27m deal

Manchester United have edged into the lead in the race to sign Udinese star Alexis Sanchez in a 27m deal, reports the Telegraph and Daily Mirror.

The Chile international is a fantastically exciting player who is capable of playing on both wings and in attacking midfield, and it is in that trequartista role that he excelled for Udinese last season.

It is also an area where Manchester United require some strengthening, given the fact that Paul Scholes has announced his retirement.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill was amongst part of a club delegation to meet with Udinese representatives in Barcelona yesterday, and is believed to have negotiated personally with Gino Pozzo - son of owner Giampaolo.

If Sir Alex Ferguson does sign Sanchez, he will have beaten both Barcelona and Manchester City to the Chilean.

However, it is thought that he will have to spend around 27m to get his man.

De Gea: I want to play until I’m 40… like VDS

In the Extra Time section of Gazzetta, David de Gea has given some interesting answers to some questions about the players he most admires and what he plans for the future. The young keeper is likely to complete a deal with Manchester United after the European U-21 Championships.

“I’d love to play until I’m 40, like Van der Sar,” he said. “You need to take care of yourself an awful lot to do that. Respect.”

He also had praise for another former United goalkeeper, claiming that Peter Schmeichel was his idol growing up and, in his opinion, the best goalie ever.

David May tells M.E.N. Phil Jones is a perfect player for Manchester United

David May knows exactly how Phil Jones is feeling following Manchester United’s £16.5m swoop for the England Under-21 defender.

Seventeen years ago, when the Reds’ new boy was just two-years-old, May made the same step up from Blackburn Rovers.

May was five years older than Jones and made the switch from Ewood Park to Old Trafford for a more modest £1.2m, so Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2011 summer buy from Rovers has even more to cope with as he contemplates life with the champions next season.

May joined the ’94 double-winning Dream Team and was immediately daunted by the challenge he had taken on at Old Trafford.

But he has words of comfort for Jones.

“You may have been to Old Trafford before and played there and you know it is going to be bigger than a small club like Blackburn, but it is not until you are in there that you realise how massive the club is,” May told M.E.N. Sport.

“I was over-awed by the size of the place. I walked into the dressing room where there were title and cup winners like Peter Schmeichel, Paul Ince, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona. All huge characters.

“It is an awesome situation to go into, but I can assure Phil then you get used to it. Your character eventually comes through and you start to feel more comfortable.

“I don’t know Jones, but to have impressed the way he has in the Premier League as a 19-year-old means you have to have a certain strong character about you.
Hopefully, he won’t be fazed by it.

“Despite the names and achievements of the players around, when I joined they were all still very welcoming and I am sure Phil will find that in the current dressing room.

“It’s all about the team at United and they want players to come in and feel part of it. That helps with the spirit.

“In terms of what he is walking into, you could not find anything better anywhere. You have the best boss in the business in Sir Alex Ferguson and the best players in the Premier League. You cannot buy that kind of experience.

“For a new player going to a place like Old Trafford, you could not have it better to settle you in and get you playing your natural game.

“Even though I was awestruck at first, I eventually warmed to it and fed off it. I am sure Phil will be looking forward to it in the same way and will benefit from it.

“The other great thing he’ll get is patient backing from the United fans and that is absolutely vital. They stick by their players at Old Trafford. The support trust the manager’s judgment and they are very, very patient. That is a huge help for any young newcomer.”

Like Jones, May had versatility to his game that enabled him to play right-back as well as the centre of defence.

The £16.5m capture is comfortable in the number two spot, central defence and in midfield.

“I hope he’s a better right-back than I was!” joked May.

“I have watched Phil a few times and he certainly has the right attributes. He is an out and out defender and very much in the Nemanja Vidic mould because he is strong in the air and loves a tackle. The timing of his challenges and the way he reads the game is superb.

“But not only has a Vidic look about him he also is very comfortable coming out of defence like Rio Ferdinand. I have recently been playing in the Masters football in Barbados for a United side and was alongside Ronny Johnsen.

“We were talking about Phil and about what a good purchase he was, but I was also thinking how much he also reminded me of Ronny. Ronny was versatile. He was a great centre-half but could also fit nicely into a midfield role. I think Jones could do a job like Ronny.

“There is so much scope for him to improve. He has seen the improvement that Chris Smalling has made since he joined from Fulham. It will be great to have been able to talk to Chris with the England Under-21s about the club.

“He has seen someone he knows pretty well cope with it superbly and I am sure that will give him confidence. I’m sure Chris will also be telling him how much he’s learnt from Vidic and Ferdinand.

“To have two of the best central defenders in the world to learn from is just fantastic for any young player. Listen, look and pick their brains and you cannot go wrong.
“He can only improve – he isn’t going to get worse.

“When he finally gets to join up with the United players for pre-season he will look around that dressing room and think at 19 with a five-year Old Trafford contract that he’s the luckiest lad alive.

“I am convinced he will measure up and do United proud. £16.5m might seem a lot but I am sure we will be looking back in years to come and talking about Phil Jones being a bargain.”

Manchester United fail in bid to sign Real's Mesut Ozil

By Telegraph staff 9:24AM BST 14 Jun 2011 Comments Following the retirement of Paul Scholes, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate to sign a creative midfielder during the summer transfer window. Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder and Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric have both been linked with a move to Old Trafford. However, both Inter and Spurs have insisted their star players are not for sale and now Ozil has also been ruled out. Asked if Ozil would want a move to the Premier League champions, Ozil's agent, Reza Fazeli, said: "Thanks, but Ozil is very happy at Real Madrid." And last night the player himself said: "I do not move from Real Madrid." Related Articles