Mixed fortunes for Man Utd in summer sales and recruitment

Manchester United, 20/1 Champions League outsiders, are enduring mixed fortunes behind the scenes in their summer sales and recruitment, according to various tabloid sources.

David Moyes’ Red Devils are rumoured to be in advanced talks with his former club Everton over a reported £15m move for Republic of Ireland right back Seamus Coleman.

Toffees defender Coleman is now widely considered to be one of the best Premier League full backs. He cost Moyes a mere £60k when he joined the blue half of Merseyside in 2009, but now, if they are to be reunited, his value has increased 250-fold.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright will not welcome this interest in Coleman, 25, and could block any move. He has already sold midfielder Marouane Fellaini to Moyes when he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

Uruguay and PSG (10/1 shots for the Champions League) forward Edinson Cavani, meanwhile, has rejected United overtures as they may not be able to offer him Champions League football next season. The Red Devils hierarchy were prepared to pay £80m to bring him to England.

Cavani, 27, could have been offered a contract thought to be worth £280k per week, but will instead remain at the Parc des Princes. He is thought to be frustrated by PSG boss Laurent Blanc’s tactic of playing him on the wing instead of up front, and remains in the shadow of Sweden star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Moyes may have better look in luring deep-lying Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho to ‘The Theatre of Dreams’, however. United are rumoured to have tabled an opening bid of £25m for the rising Portugal star.

Striker Javier Hernandez looks to be closing in on an Old Trafford exit, with Inter Milan in negotiations to bring him to the blue half of the San Siro. Bankrolled by the billions of Erik Thohir, the Nerazzurri have already signed Red Devils skipper Nemanja Vidic up for next season. Inter are also targeting out of contract left back Patrice Evra.

Up next for Moyes’ men after their sensational 3-0 victory over Olympiakos in Europe is an away trip to West Ham. Back United to win at Upton Park at 8/11.