UNITED have been put on red alert after Barcelona opened the Nou Camp exit door for Samuel Eto'o.

The Spanish club's new coach Pep Guardiola has revealed that the star Cameroon hitman is one of a trio of stars who are not part of his future plans for Barca.

"All of the players in the first-team squad last season are of a very high level," the 37-year-old said.

"But with the technical secretary we are forming a squad and Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto'o are not in our minds."

Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson has put a new striker at the top of his summer transfer business.

The European and Premier League champions are set to face problems signing one of their favoured hitmen, Karim Benzema, as his club Lyon are attempting to price the 20-year-old out of the market.

United also have Dimitar Berbatov of Spurs and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Ajax - who scored against Romania for Holland last night - on their list of possibles.

However, the news that the way is clear for Eto'o to find a new home away from Catalonia will almost certainly mean he'll be placed in the `interested' file as the Reds wait to make their big moves after Euro 2008.

Eto'o has scored 91 goals in his 135 matches for Barcelona during a five-year career at the Nou Camp and had already been attracting Europe's elite even before Barca declared their hand.

AC Milan have been in pole position and are prepared to pay around £20m for the 27-year-old Cameroon striker. Their neighbours Inter are also said to be keen, as are Chelsea.

United are in need of an extra hitman to supplement Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo. That need could become even greater if the latter chooses to quit Old Trafford for Real Madrid.

United have got Louis Saha still on the payroll but the French striker looks to be on his way out of Old Trafford when new imports can be installed.

The Nou Camp clear out, which will include Ronaldinho and began with the recent exit of Giovani Dos Santos to Tottenham, has left Barcelona weakened on the left flank but Guardiola will not be throwing Barca's hat in the ring with their La Liga rivals Real Madrid for Ronaldo.

"I wouldn't make a space for him in the team, even though I think he is a very good player," he said. "We will look at the possibility of bringing in a winger, but if we don't then that's fine - the priority is a number nine," he said.

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