Portsmouth goalkeeper David James is being linked with a shock move to Manchester United. The Daily Express says United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will assess Ben Foster's form and Edwin van der Sar's return from injury over the next couple of months before deciding on James.

Portsmouth are already braced for a battle to hang on to James in January but know they would be virtually powerless to stop him from moving to Old Trafford.

And he would be eligible to play in the Champions League. James, who would cost only about £1million, proved he is the leading candidate to start next summer's World Cup as first-choice for England by producing an assured performance in the 1-0 defeat against Ukraine.