Bull in the Heather

Yesterday The Mirror reported we'd agreed a fee for Moura, today the equally reliable Daily Mail report comments from his agent suggesting otherwise:

And Moura's agent Wagner Ribeiro has now hammered the final nail in the coffin in United's interest after insisting the teenager's asking price is well beyond the Barclays Premier League side's range.

'They have reached their limit,' Ribeiro told UOL. 'Lucas Moura won’t leave.

'He is happy at Sao Paulo. We have to forget this subject. There is no possibility he leaves now.

'Manchester United made an offer, which was rejected and they won’t make another one as they have reached their limit.'

How he knows what our limit is, who knows.  After their success reporting on Moura, The Mirror today link us with another South American, Ezequiel Cirigliano. Don't hold your breath.

Some comments from Sir Alex in the papers, on various subjects, from The Mirror, comments that could 

justify the paper's aggressive rumour-mongering:

“At this moment in time, we’re looking at other options to bring others in.

“We’re not lying on our backside doing nothing. We’re trying hard to bring players into the club.”

The Daily Star report Sir Alex bigging up Chelsea's title challenge: 

“Chelsea’s owners have got their enthusiasm back after winning the Champions League, there’s more expectation on them now.

“That was the trophy Roman Abramovich always wanted, so he’s invested in the team again this ­summer.

“It’s a challenge for us, and we ­always respect Chelsea. You just have to wait and see how good these ­players are."

Rio Ferdinand has nice things to say about Kagawa:

'He's been fantastic. He's quick, he's sharp, he has great awareness, he plays off both feet. I'm excited about playing with him and getting the season started.

'He's been one of the better players in Germany for the last few years. I think he will bring that form to Manchester United. I think he'll be a great acquisition.'

Anders Lindegaard has a positive outlook on life if these comments are anything to go by:

“I played six or seven games in a row before I was injured and I think that speaks for itself,” he said.

“If I don’t believe that I become No.1, then no-one else can believe in it. So, of course I believe in it.

"I’ve said a million times, I’m not at United to pick my nose and I will never be at United just to sit on my money.

“I want to deserve the money I earn, and I want to deserve it by playing. I’ve never seen myself as a straight No.2.”

And finally there's a bit of a look at pre-season tours from Mark Ogden in The Telegraph. Nothing to interesting, unless you care about the money.  the brief summary: harder to make money from China if their own league takes off.