Manchester United to bid £62m for Franck Ribery

Manchester United has launched a world-record bid of £62.5m for Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, according to officials at the German club. While the Bundesliga club has tentatively accepted the offer, it would be contingent on the Old Trafford outfit selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. The preparations that Sir Alex Ferguson and his team have put into the bid - even sounding out the French international's entourage - would suggest that Ronaldo's move is a done deal...Mamadou Sakho, an international teammate of Ribery's, could join him at Old Trafford, after Manchester United became the latest club to be associated with the remarkably gifted centre back. Sir Alex Ferguson has been to see the 18-year-old in action for Paris St Germain twice in the last three weeks, and wants to beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for his signature...

Despite repeated assurances that he will not be Chelsea boss beyond the last match of this season, Guus Hiddink will lead a clear-out of the club's big names should they fail to qualify for the Champions League final tomorrow night at home to Barcelona. Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou and Deco could all be offloaded in the close season to help the club balance the books and allow the new man at Stamford Bridge a decent transfer kitty...

Joe Ledley, Cardiff City's Welsh midfielder who has been attracting covetous glances from Premier League teams all season, looks set to leave the Bluebirds after they missed out on a play-off position. The 22-year-old was the subject of a £6m bid by Stoke City last summer, which was rejected, but the player is likely now to demand that a renewed approach be accepted having shown his commitment to the club this season... ·