MONEY TALKS

The Times on how the Glazers may have struck it lucky as United's targets appear to be heading elsewhere.

Hardly a day must pass when Sir Alex Ferguson does not bemoan the intervention of that rich Russian at Stamford Bridge, and the Manchester United manager's patience is likely to be tested still farther with the news that Roman Abramovich is preparing to fund an audacious £50 million double swoop for Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano, the highly-rated Argentinians, this summer.

Ferguson had identified Mascherano as one of his leading candidates to fill the void left by Roy Keane's departure, but the midfield player appears to have set his heart on a move to Chelsea.

The bad news did not stop there for United, however, with the agent of Mahamadou Diarra, another of Ferguson's principal midfield targets, indicating to The Times that the player would be staying at Lyons beyond the summer, while Juan Román Riquelme's representative has denied that United have made an approach for the Argentinian playmaker and insisted the player is “happy” at Villarreal.

“Mahamadou is happy at Lyons, he signed a four-year contract with the club last June that will keep him there until 2010 and he has no intention of leaving,” Frédéric Guerra said.

Having lost Michael Essien to Chelsea, Lyons have neither a wish nor a need to sell Diarra, although it is clear that the 24-year-old Mali international has his price.

Lyons would demand at least the £24.4 million it took Chelsea to prise away Essien for Diarra, although United are understood to be reluctant to engage in a bidding war for players, especially with such tough negotiators as the French club.

United, meanwhile, may now elect to turn their attention to Aldo Duscher, another Argentinian. The Deportivo La Coruña anchorman represents very much a third or fourth alternative to Ferguson, but he may be the only viable option as the Scot looks to bolster a lightweight midfield.

Duscher has long expressed an interest in a move to United and would be available for around £8 million. Ferguson is also unlikely to be dissuaded by Riquelme's agent's insistence that the player will be staying in Spain, although whether United would be able to meet an asking fee of more than £25 million remains to be seen.

“He's happy in Spain, there has been no contact from any big clubs and at this moment I expect him to be a Villarreal player next season,” Daniel Bolotnicoff said.