MAN UTD OFFICIAL NEWS>

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Manchester United are reported to be lining up a deal to sign Anderlecht's highly-rated centre half Vincent Kompany.
The 17-year-old has proved to be the revelation of the season in Belgium after forcing his way into the champions' first-team in a Champions League qualifier in July.

Since then the youngster has turned in a series of composed displays, especially in his side's 1-0 win over Celtic last week, and has even been called up to the full Belgium squad.

United sent chief scout Martin Ferguson to run the rule over Kompany in the Celtic game and received glowing reports on the elegant stopper.

It is thought the Premiership champions will attempt to secure first-option on the Brussels-born starlet in the coming months in a bid to head off interest from other major European clubs.

Arsenal were rumoured to have enquired for Kompany last term before the defender made the breakthrough at Anderlecht, but were rebuffed.

United have an advantage in the race for the teenager's signature however, as they snapped up his former Anderlecht team mate, and friend, 16-year-old Floribert Ngalua on a free transfer last summer.

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will continue to rest some of his stars when the champions take on Leeds United in the Carling Cup, and there could be a debut for exciting youngster Chris Eagles.
The teenage midfielder, unfairly dubbed 'the new David Beckham' in some quarters, has impressed for the reserves this term and may be afforded a place on the substitutes' bench.

Roy Carroll gets a rare chance in goal, with Tim Howard rested after receiving praise from Ferguson despite the 3-1 home defeat to Fulham.

There had been a feeling United would bring back some of their big guns to take on their rivals from Elland Road, but David Bellion is another young face who will be handed a starting opportunity.

"Nicky Butt, Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion and Diego Forlan will all play," confirmed Ferguson to United's official website.

"It will be a mix of that and the first team squad, which is exactly the way we have always approached it.

"Roy Carroll will also play."  

The Red Devils ground out a 1-0 Premiership win at Leeds recently with Roy Keane, one of the stars expected to miss out on Tuesday in the live Sky encounter, scoring the winner.

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Sir Alex Ferguson will again field a mixed team in Tuesday's Carling Cup tie with Leeds.

Fergie came in for tabloid criticism for fielding a weakened team in the home defeat by Fulham, but will continue to use the Carling Cup as first-team experience for fringe players.

Both Paul Scholes and Roy Keane were omitted from the starting line-up against the Cottagers, and they will almost certainly miss out again on Tuesday. Ibrox hero Phil Neville, who missed the Fulham game with a slight hamstring strain, may be available again for selection.

Ferguson said: "Nicky Butt, Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion and Diego Forlan will all play.

"It will be a mix of that and the first-team squad, which is exactly the way we have always approached it. Roy Carroll will also play."

United reached the final of the competition last season for the first time in nine years, but were beaten in 2-0 by Liverpool in Cardiff.

Leeds warmed up for Tuesday's tie at Anfield, where they were beaten 3-1 hours before United lost to Fulham by the same score

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Marseille have responded to reports which suggested Daniel van Buyten could be on his way to Manchester United in January, with manager Alain Perrin saying there is no chance of such a deal happening.
Talented Belgian international van Buyten has earned rave reviews in the last couple of seasons for l'OM, making the likes of The Red Devils and Newcastle sit up and take note.

Van Buyten says he is happy at Stade Velodrome, but is clearly looking to move on at some point in the future.

Reports have suggested a deal could be thrashed out during January's transfer window, after United sanctioned the loan transfer of Fabien Barthez, but Perrin has dismissed the possibility of a pre-summer sale.

"It makes me smile," was Perrin's response to the speculation. "It is out of the question to transfer van Buyten during the transfer window."

Perrin did, though, confirm that it would take an offer of over ?15 million to prise van Buyten away from the Mediterranean coast.

"Everything has a price and certain prices could make me have second thoughts," said Perrin. "But I'll repeat what is for me the minimum fee we could accept for van Buyten and that's ?22 million."

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Manchester United target Vincent Kompany has been rewarded for his progress into Anderlecht's first team this season with a new improved deal.
The 17-year-old defender has attracted the attention of a number of top clubs including United after bursting onto the scene this season.

Kompany has broken into the first team this term and has impressed in their Champions League campaign.

His performances have even seen him win a call-up to the Belgian national team and he is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe.

United watched Kompany in last week's win over Celtic and the player's agent Jacques Lichtenstein revealed United had declared their interest in the classy central defender.

"He has been followed for some time by Manchester," Lichtenstein told Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws.

"Coach Alex Ferguson knows Vincent. There is nothing concrete at the moment, but for sure they will try to follow him."

Anderlecht confirmed that United had made enquiries about Kompany and that they were not the only club after him.

"Manchester United is not alone. The telephone continues ringing for Kompany," said an Anderlecht spokesman.

Anderlecht are keen to fend off interest from top clubs by bringing Kompany in line with some of the established stars at Stade Constant Vanden Stock.

Kompany's deal runs until 2006 and the player has indicated he is happy to stay at the club to continue his education.

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Paul Scholes has been ruled out for up to four weeks after undergoing surgery on his groin injury.
The England midfielder has been troubled by the problem for some time, and Manchester United opted to send him for surgery after he aggravated it again during a training session on Monday.

Scholes has now undergone surgery on both groins, but his club underlined that the condition was not a hernia-related problem.

"Paul Scholes' groin problem has re-occurred and he has had to have surgery this morning to both groins," said a United spokesperson.

"He is likely to be out for three to four weeks."

The 28-year-old was troubled by the problem earlier in the season but was thought to have overcome it after resting it.

The operation means the midfielder will now definitely miss league games against Portsmouth and Liverpool, the Champions League clash with Rangers and, in all probability, England's friendly with Denmark at Old Trafford on November 16

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Pos Team                Pld GD Pts
1  ARSENAL              10  11  24  
2  Chelsea                10  11  23  
3  Manchester United  10  12  22  
4  Birmingham City      10  4  19  
5  Fulham                  10  7  18  


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The Football Association have charged Rio Ferdinand with misconduct after his failure to attend a routine drugs test, and PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has described the latest development in the saga as "good news".
As expected, the England centre back will now have 14 days to respond to the charge, which still threatens to lead to a lengthy suspension from the game.

It could even transpire that the matter will not be finally resolved until the New Year, as Ferdinand has already offered his opposition to the charges against him, and is supported by United over the furore. Hence, an appeal could be launched.

United have confirmed they will request a personal hearing, with a statement on their official website reading: "Manchester United notes the decision by The Football Association today to charge Rio Ferdinand with misconduct for failure to attend a drugs test.

"The player will be responding to the charge and seeking a personal hearing in accordance with FA procedures."

Taylor feels the situation could have been far worse and is hoping for a sensible outcome.

"I think that this has not been a good news story from the start," Taylor told Sky Sports News. "But I'm pleased he's not been charged with wilful refusal.

"What is quite clear is the player should have been given a form an hour before taking the test, and then it would be wilful, but that's not the case and, I repeat again, there should've been no naming and a penalty imposed until the initial hearing, which was set for the Monday after the Turkey game that he was left out of.

"The charge is good news and is keeping things in proportion. It is certainly a lesser charge and should carry a lesser penalty. It's as simple as that.

"When I say lesser penalty, that's not pre-judging what is going to come out of the hearing.

"He could be facing a ban but at least the signs are a bit more positive at the moment.

"Even high-profile players deserve the same consideration as anyone else but I appreciate the eyes of the world are going to be on The FA, and nobody ever said this was going to be easy."

The FA charged Ferdinand with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E26, the failure or refusal by a player to submit to drug-testing as required by a competent official, and not the charge of wilful refusal to take the test

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By Edwin Chong
Manchester United have made an offer for rising Chinese star Dong Fangzhuo, according to Dalian Shide manager Lin Lefeng.
Lin revealed United tabled a bid believed to be in the region of ?1 million for Dong, but Dalian will only let the talented forward go permanently if United increase their offer.

However, Lin is open to the idea of loaning the player to the Premiership giants for free, an option he believes will benefit the 18-year-old tremendously.

"What United had offered is not meant to be disclosed but I can assure you it's more than ?1 million we are talking about here," said Lin.

"Dalian would not mind striking a loan deal because we see no harm in such an arrangement for the player in question.

"For the benefit of the team, as well as for the player, the club insist that the player be allowed to move on a long-term deal. As long as that is agreed upon, the price is inconsequential.

"We hope we can get Dong to England. We don't mind a three to five-year loan deal and as part of the club's sincerity, we are willing to allow letting the player go for free on loan.

"We hope the deal can be struck when the transfer window reopens in January. It is not money that we are after. We have ambitions far beyond a player transfer."

Dong first caught the eye of United's coaching staff when he impressed in a two-week trial in September and manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up his interest.

He made his senior club debut for Dalian last year as a 17-year-old, scoring twice in the process, and he is earmarked to be the successor of China's legendary striker Hao Haidong.

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Vincent Kompany's agent has revealed to skysports.com that the young defender has his heart set on a switch to England should he leave Anderlecht.
The 17-year-old has attracted the interest of a host of clubs across Europe after breaking into the Anderlecht side this term.

The classy defender has shone in his side's Champions League campaign so far and his performances have not gone unnoticed by several major clubs.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with the Belgian ace, while Bayern Munich have made tentative enquires about his availability.

Kompany's representative Jacques Lichtenstein admitted there had been a great deal of interest in the youngster although there had been no offers as yet for him.

"At present there has been no concrete offers, but I know that there has been a lot of clubs around Europe scouting him," said Lichtenstein.

"I think someone from Manchester United was watching him in the Champions League win over Celtic last week.

"He is undoubtedly one of the best talents around at 17-years-old and there is a lot of clubs looking at him.

"Anderlecht do not want to sell and Vincent is quite happy to stay and learn his football at the club.

"He will definitely stay during the January transfer window, but things could change in the summer depending on Anderlecht.

"Bayern Munich phoned Anderlecht about him after their Champions League game, but Anderlecht told them he was not for sale."

Lichtenstein revealed if Kompany ever left Anderlecht his preferred move would be to The Premiership.

"In a few years he could move and if he did he would prefer to move to England ahead of Italy or Spain.

"His priority is to play in England and Arsenal is his team.

"His best friend is Yves Makaba Makalamby, who is at Chelsea and he has told him all about London.

"He knows everything about England and he follows The Premiership.

"He watched Arsenal play last season against Leeds and even if he got an offer from a top Italian club he would like to go to England

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Manchester United notes the statement made today by the Football Association regarding Rio Ferdinand.

The Club would like to point out that Manchester United was first approached on the matter by the FA last weekend when Club officials were invited to attend a meeting on the Sunday afternoon to discuss the situation.

At no point since then has Manchester United agreed with the approach the FA has taken to the matter, nor has it supported the FA’s decision regarding Rio’s non-selection for the England squad.

It was not until Monday, 6th October that documentation was received by the Club regarding the notification of Rio’s need to attend a personal interview with the FA on Monday, 13th October.

As of today, Rio has still not been charged with an offence, and precedent suggests that he should continue to be available to represent England until at least a disciplinary finding has been made against him by the FA.

Manchester United believes the FA’s actions have seriously compromised the player’s confidentiality. The publicity generated by the FA’s actions has put unfair pressure on Rio in what should have a remained a strictly confidential matter.

David Gill, Manchester United’s Chief Executive, said: “The Club is deeply troubled by the FA’s handling of the situation and believes it is at variance with the FA’s approach to all other drugs-related cases.

"We think the FA’s decision not to select Rio for England is wrong for the player and wrong for the country. As a consequence, we will be vigorously pursuing our concerns about the matter in due course

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Manchester United misfit Diego Forlan is anxious to be rewarded for his goalscoring exploits with a prolonged run in the first team.
Forlan has started the Premiership champions' last two fixtures and has vindicated manager Sir Alex Ferguson's faith with a goal in each game.

Though the Uruguayan forward has not shed his penchant for missing several chances before finally hitting the target, his confidence has remained undiminished as he seeks to finally establish himself as a Red Devils regular.

The 24-year-old led the line on Tuesday evening in the Carling Cup tie against Leeds United and netted the second goal in the thrilling 3-2 extra time success at Elland Road.

With Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer currently injured, there is a chance for Forlan to stake a claim for a more permanent spot in the starting line-up.

He is delighted to have got two consecutive games under his belt and hopes Ferguson will reward him with a place in the team against Portsmouth on Saturday.

"Playing last weekend and today has made a difference and scoring the goals has given me confidence," opined Forlan.

"Every player needs a run of games. Training every day is not the same, it affects your timing and everything, and every game you play is a big difference to being on the bench.

"I have now played two full games and feel better again. It is not frustrating to be on the bench because I am in a big team with great players.

"But of course you want to play because that is what you train for. Now I want to carry on the same way.

"Of course I will be disappointed if I am back on the bench next Saturday but I always think the worst so I won't get too disappointed."

United boss Ferguson praised Forlan's contribution against Leeds and believes the much-maligned attacker merited his goal.

Ferguson said: "Diego has got that tenacity about him and he moves all the time. He had three or four good shots so I think he got his rewards."

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The club has released the following statement regarding Darren Fletcher's new United contract:

Manchester United is pleased to announce that it has agreed terms with Darren Fletcher on a new four-year contract that will keep him at the club at least until the end of June, 2007.

Sir Alex Ferguson says: “This deal is in keeping with what we have been doing at the club in bringing young players through to the first team squad, and we recognise Darren’s progress and are delighted to get him on a new contract.”

Factfile:
Born: Edinburgh, February 1,1984.
Signed as a trainee: July 2000
Turned professional: February 2001.
First team debut: v FC Basel on March 12, 2003.
Appearances: 5 (2 as a substitute)