United eye Carrick bid

Manchester United will reportedly bid for Michael Carrick should the midfielder reject a new contract at Tottenham.

According to The Mirror Spurs manager Martin Jol has re-opened contract talks with the England international who is hopeful of making the World Cup squad this summer.

However Carrick is earning just £15,000 per week which is some way short of the £50,000 which he is believed to be demanding.

United are expected to make Spurs a big offer in the summer if Carrick rejects an improvement of his deal at White Hart Lane as they seek to mount a serious Premiership title bid next season.

In the Chelsea camp owner Roman Abramovich will reportedly order Jose Mourinho to buy a top class striker in the summer.

According to the London Independent Abramovich will not tolerate another season without winning the Champions League and is demanding that Mourinho abandons his transfer policy of "no superstars" in order to bring a top goalscorer to the club.

The Russian billionaire had made the funds available for Chelsea to bring Milan's Andrei Shevchenko to Stamford Bridge in the past and the Ukrainian forward is still a possible target.

Barcelona, the team who dumped the Blues out of this season's Champions League on Tuesday night, have made it clear that Ronaldinho is not for sale at any price but the situation regarding Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o will continue to be assessed.

Chelsea could move for Ronaldo who has stated his unhappiness at Real Madrid in recent weeks while Adriano of Internazionale is also a possible target for the world's richest football club.