SAMUEL Eto'o would have to dramatically drop his wage demands even more to interest United.

Reports have suggested that the City target would be prepared to turn his back on a move from Barcelona to Eastlands if Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him.

The reports also claim that the opportunity to remain in the Champions League - the Cameroon star scored Barca's opening in their Rome win against United in May's final - would swing it in the Reds' favour.

But with the Blues said to be offering a weekly pay packet of £200,000 and Eto'o ready to drop that by £50,000 a week even that would not be enough of a cut for United consider the transfer.

The £150,000 would elevate Eto'o to United's biggest earner and that would shatter a carefully and prudently implemented wage structure.

The player is also 28 and even a £25m transfer fee would not fit into United's identi-kit picture of the ideal transfer target as he would have no possible sell-on fee after his Old Trafford contract expired.

Old Trafford's revolving door hasn't gone into an uncontrollable spin during the summer transfer window with only Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia moving into Fergie's squad.

But Aston Villa's 23-year-old left winger Ashley Young is now being linked with a move to the champions.

Concerns

Young won the PFA Young Player of the Year last season and would fit neatly into Fergie's buying plans and age structure. But with Valencia, Ji-sung Park and Nani able to play on the left a move for the Villa star would overload that department.

However, Nani is already expressing concerns that he might be on the periphery again in the coming season. The 2007 £18m buy from Sporting Lisbon could find himself surplus to requirements.

While United search for new faces some of the old guard are also being sought after. Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes is being linked with a move to Everton.

The Merseysiders' boss David Moyes has plundered the Reds' squad in recent years for out of favour players seeking more regular outings. Moyes had keeper Tim Howard, Phil Neville and Louis Saha in his Wembley side in the FA Cup final. Howard and Neville have enjoyed new leases of life at Goodison and now Moyes is said to be looking at tempting Scholes down the M62.

Stoke City had previously been named as interested buyers in the 34-year-old.

Gary Neville, who looks to have the prospect of less first team matches than his surviving Class of '92 pals Scholes and Ryan Giggs in the new season at United, has also been a target for Middlesbrough.

But while United's famous golden generation are in the midst of their twilight years of their Old Trafford careers, Fergie has moved to ensure the potential Giggs, Scholes and Nevilles of the future are in the pipeline.

United's Academy have installed two newcomers among their youth ranks. Charlton's 15-year-old Sean McGinty will join young ranks after the club agreed a compensation package with the London club.

McGinty is a Republic of Ireland Under 17 was offered scholarship terms at the Valley having been with the club for three years but United stepped in. Brian McClair's Academy has also added Empoli's 16-year-old right-back Alberto Massacci to the youth squad.

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