Mikael Silvestre remains unsettled at Manchester United.

The defender played in Sunday's Community Shield, but close friends have been quoted in the French media today that "he wants a change".

The stumbling block is Silvestre's status. The Frenchman is about to turn 30 and there's few clubs, particularly in France, that can match his personal demands.

Silvestre has been linked with Newcastle United, where former United teammate Alan Smith could be influential in convincing him to move to Tyneside.