VIEIRA SPECULATION GROWS

Last updated : 16 July 2006 By Ed
As predicted on the Red Issue sanctuary it appears United are looking to bring Vieira to the club. From the Observer:

Manchester United are understood to have made initial moves to bring Patrick Vieira back to the Premiership. Agents close to Vieira, whose club Juventus have been relegated to Serie B as part of Italy's far-reaching corruption investigation, said last night that talks between the parties are under way, with the proposed deal 'very much a live situation'. United, who are understood to be close to agreeing a £12m fee with Real Madrid for the sale of Ruud van Nistelrooy, have added Vieira - no friend of the Holland striker - to a shortlist of possible signings that still includes Lyon's Mahamadou Diarra.

Sources close to Vieira who owns a house in London, confirmed last week that he will leave Juventus after their relegation, imposed when the club, with Fiorentina, Lazio and Milan, were found guilty of influencing the appointment of match officials for matches during the 2004-05 season.

Juventus, though, have said they will not sell their players cheaply after their relegation. 'We want everyone to be well aware that we are not a supermarket,' said Alessio Secco, the sporting director. 'It's not easy. We have received so many offers, especially from abroad. But it's better not to make too many changes and to have a strong squad, even if it's more costly than having to reconstruct it.'