The Kids Will Have Their Say

Another quiet day today.
The main story is on Macheda who suffered a robbery at his home:

Two thugs wearing balaclavas smashed their way in and demanded cash and jewellery from the 17-year-old Italian and one of his friends.

It is thought Macheda, nicknamed Kiko, lost a watch worth £20,000 along with other items.

His mate was hit over the head with a bottle and needed hospital treatment for minor cuts.

Police believe the attack may be linked to an earlier incident after the ex-Lazio prodigy was involved in a bust-up outside a private members' nightclub. Striker Macheda, who turns 18 next month, had been partying at the exclusive Circle Bar in Manchester city centre.

Sources said that as he left he was involved in a heated exchange with several other men. He and his pal jumped in a cab back to his home in Sale, about six miles away.

A short time later two men turned up and launched their attack.

Elsewhere the only news of note is on Douglas Costa, with speculation that we're in negotiations to buy him:

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, rates Costa as the brightest young talent currently playing in South America but the Premier League champions could not convince Gremio to allow him out on loan when negotiations began earlier this summer and believe the deal can happen only if the Porto Alegre club drastically lower their valuation.

Gremio have severe financial issues and are acutely aware that selling their most prized young asset could be the answer to those problems. With that in mind, they have informed prospective buyers they want £21m. United regard that as excessive for a player who has not yet played 20 senior games but they are hoping Gremio's position is negotiable and have put together a financial package, with an initial outlay of £7m, plus a series of success-related add-ons if the player lives up to the promise that has brought him to the attention of Ferguson via John Calvert-Toulmin, the club's principal scout in Brazil.

The transfer hinges on whether a compromise can be agreed and United are hoping the influential deal-maker Chris Nathaniel can help to convince Gremio that they risk getting nothing at all if they continue to play hardball. Nathaniel, whose extensive list of clients includes Rio Ferdinand and Robinho, is prominently involved with Costa and has spent the last few days in Brazil, in the process holding extensive talks with Gremio's hierarchy.

The Independent describe Costa as:

a free-kick specialist resonant of Cristiano Ronaldo and his close control has produced goals which the departed Portuguese would have cherished.

And despite numerous other names being mentioned in connection with us they suggest that:

Ferguson, who will present his summer signings Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia today, may provide a sense of whether he feels he has done enough to prepare United for life without Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, but there is no feeling from United that he is ready to splash out on this kind of £20m-plus target to fill the gap.

Josep Maria Mesalles, the agent for Samuel Eto'o, is hopeful that United will bid for the Cameroon striker who could be secured for £18m. However, United appear to feel that Owen, Valencia and potentially Costa could be enough striking reinforcement.

And that's the lot.