MANCHESTER UNITED TRANSFER RUMOURS: Pato, Alaba, Ayew And Arango Involved In Latest Speculation

With Manchester United already having waved goodbye to one front man this summer in Michael Owen, and Dimitar Berbatov looking to soon be following suit, the club is thought to be on the lookout for a new striker.

The Manchester Evening News has reported a new name as a possibility to join the likes of Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez in the forward ranks at Old Trafford. The paper claims that United have been put on alert by quotes from Milan's Alexandre Pato stating his fondness for the game in England.

I love English football, the Brazilian international said. I have friends who play for Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

At the moment I have a real taste for playing in the UK, being in London with one month to go before the Olympics.

My priority is to finish my contract in Milan. I have a lot to thank them for and my focus is to continue doing what I do, to bring joy to the fans in Milan and continue my contract until 2014.

And then afterwards, who knows?

Pato, 22, was hailed a future great when he signed for Milan for €22 million five years ago. But injuries have dramatically hindered his progress since then. Last season he was restricted to just nine starts in all competitions.

In January, Milan were close to selling Pato for €35 million for Paris Saint-Germain.

If speculation is to be believed United also appear to be interested in bringing a left-footed wide man to the club to compliment right-footers Ashley Young, Nani and Antonio Valencia. It could also be that Sir Alex Ferguson is attempting to replace Nani, who has yet to sign a new contract at Old Trafford.

James Rodriguez has been the name most strongly linked to filling that void, although Porto appear to be driving a hard bargain over a potential transfer fee.

Ferguson is also said to have looked at Marseille's Andre Ayew. The Ghanaian has impressed in Ligue 1, and with Marseille's struggles last season could be tempted by a move away.

The news that Ayew had changed his agent swelled talk that he was looking for a move away, but the 22-year-old has been quick to dismiss those inferences.

I have never said that I want to leave the club, he said, according to Sky Sports.

Now that I have changed my agent, it does not mean that I want to change clubs.

Marseille is a fantastic club and I love it here. This is my home and I am settled here with great people around me.

If I do leave one day, it will be with the blessing of everyone here.

To be linked with fantastic teams all over the world is flattering and appealing to me, but it is all speculation.

Meanwhile, German publication Bild has claimed that United, along with Juventus, are interested in Borussia Monchengladbach left winger Juan Arango.

The 32-year-old, who has over 100 caps for Venezuela, responded to speculation by saying: We'll see what happens.

The other area of the United side Ferguson is reportedly keen to strengthen this off season is at left-back. Everton's Leighton Baines has been repeatedly talked of as a United target, although the two clubs still appear a long way apart in terms of a valuation.

Another target could be Bayern Munich's David Alaba. The 20-year-old Austrian earned praise for his performances in his breakthrough season at the Allianz Arena last term, helping the German giants reach the final of the Champions League.

And Alba's national team coach, Marcel Koller, has responded about speculation linking the player with a move away.

They are all great names but Bayern are a club on the same top level, he told Spox.com.

I am convinced that David would prevail, whether at Manchester United, Barcelona or Real Madrid. I see absolutely no problems but also no reason to leave Bayern.