Man Utd swoop for Gabriel Obertan

Manchester United's burst of transfer activity continues, as Sir Alex Ferguson seems set to swoop for Bordeaux's highly rated French winger Gabriel Obertan, as reported yesterday on The First Post. Obertan will sign a four-year deal today, according to the Times, which will see the 20-year-old move to Old Trafford for £3m. Meanwhile, Ferguson also wrapped up the long-term signature of Ben Foster, United's reserve goalkeeper and heir to Edwin van der Sar...

There could finally be good news for Chelsea on the transfer front, as Real Madrid effectively signalled the end of their interest in Bayern Munich's French international Franck Ribery, the Guardian is reporting. Madrid had been the winger's favoured destination, but with the Spaniards' spending spree beginning to peter out, the field is left open for Carlo Ancelotti to try and persuade Ribery that his future lies in west London...

Chelsea's gain is Liverpool's loss, meanwhile, as Real Madrid are focusing all their considerable powers of persuasion on making Xabi Alonso their final transfer coup of the summer, but not at any price. The Guardian says that Real will not stump up £35m for the versatile midfielder, which is the valuation Rafa Benitez, fearful of losing such a popular player, has slapped on the Spanish international...

Premier League new boys Birmingham City have broken their transfer record in signing Ecuadorean striker Christian Benitez for £8m from Mexico's Santos Laguna. There had been a late hold-up in the transfer, reveals the Daily Telegraph, when the player's medical suggested a knee problem, but the clubs agreed to knock £1m off the original figure of £9m and the deal was sealed on Tuesday...

Relegated Middlesbrough could finally begin to clear a few high-earning stars off their wage bill as Everton are ready to make a cut-price £4m bid for talented midfielder Tuncay, according to the Daily Mail. Disciplinarian David Moyes wants to bring in the high-earning Turk despite him going AWOL from early training sessions at the Riverside...