Manchester United are stepping up their pursuit of Villarreal defensive utility Bruno Soriano. AS says there's now talk United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will move for the left-sided wing-back in January and is prepared to pay £8 million to bring him to Old Trafford.

Soriano is now regarded as Villarreal's most important player and management insist he is not for sale.

But after caving into Malaga's push for Santi Cazorla over the summer, there is a feeling from fans that Soriano will be lost to United should the right offer be made.