David Villa
With David Villa seemingly set to leave Valencia, a report in the Daily Mirror this morning claims the Spanish striker would prefer to join Manchester United than Chelsea.
Alan Nixon writes: "Chelsea will make a £33million bid for Valencia's super Spanish striker David Villa - but he would rather go to rivals Manchester United. Roman Abramovich has approved a mega bid for the hitman who will be sold by his hard-up club in the next transfer window, and a top agent has been brought in to do the deal."
Nixon adds: "the Villa camp have revealed that they have already turned down Chelsea once - in the last window - and the player would still prefer to go to United."
If Chelsea can get FIFA’s transfer ban lifted in time for the January transfer window they are expected to make a bid for Villa. United are reportedly interested but may not be willing to match the fee stumped up by the London club.
Valencia director Fernando Gomez admitted last week that the Spanish side would have to offload players in January due to increasing debt. It was also reported that David Villa had sacked his agent after failing to secure a summer move away from the Mestalla.
Villa, 27, has scored nine goals in 12 appearances in 2009/2010 – the Spanish striker is contracted to Valencia until the end of 2012/2013.