United send delegation to woo Escude
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United officials will travel to France this weekend to try to sign the Rennes defender Julien Escudé, who claims to be already aware of Sir Alex Ferguson's intentions.
"We have not received any offer from Manchester United concerning Julien Escudé," a Rennes spokesman, Jérome Poupard, said. "But they asked us to meet on Sunday and, as we are courteous, we have accepted."
Escudé joined Rennes from Cannes in 1999 and has been a regular in the first team since, earning Under-21 honours for France. But last month the 22-year-old hinted that he would be prepared to move to the Premiership and join United.
"Manchester United are interested," he said, "and I am not insensitive to their solicitations. I have had contacts with Alex Ferguson. I wanted to know what he expected from me and what he was intending.
"I have spoken about my possible departure with the Rennes managers. They know what I think. I am ambitious and I want to keep progressing, play in the Champions' League and win titles."
Nick Barmby could complete his £2.75m move to Leeds today as Terry Venables closes in on his first signing. The 28-year-old Liverpool midfielder was in Leeds yesterday undergoing a medical and was due to discuss terms once the tests were completed.
Liverpool are set to turn their attentions to the Australian midfielder Brett Emerton as a possible replacement for Barmby. The Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier has put Emerton and Damien Duff on top of his wanted list. But, with Duff seemingly priced out of the market by Blackburn, Houllier – who has also completed the signing of the Senegal midfielder Salif Diao this week – may turn to Feyenoord's Emerton.
The 23-year-old is likely to sit out the Dutch club's Champions' League match with Fenerbahçe, as Liverpool are almost certain to lose interest otherwise. Emerton said: "If I play in that match, I can't play in Europe for any other team. That means I will be less attractive for other teams and that is something I have to consider.
"The speculation about me moving to England has been around for six months now. I just take it as it comes. I am only 23, there is plenty of time for a transfer. This doesn't mean that when a club comes along I will not think about it. But again, I will only leave Feyenoord for a great club, one I think suits me."
It is unlikely Houllier that will move for Emerton before Sunday's Community Shield clash with Arsenal in Cardiff, where Diao will figure if Liverpool can obtain international clearance in time.
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