Everton youngster Jack Rodwell swapped shirts with Rio Ferdinand last season and hopes to eventually emulate the Manchester United centre-back.

Rodwell played in a defensive midfield role for England Under-21s against Germany on Monday but has been tipped to drop back into defence, just as Ferdinand did at West Ham at the start of his career.

Patrice Evra expressed his disappointment after France supporters booed the team off following their 1-0 friendly defeat to Nigeria.

The Manchester United defender added that the French fans could learn lessons from their English counterparts who he insists applaud their team even in defeat.

Owen Hargreaves has claimed he is not finished with football and the Manchester United ace has insisted he can play on.

The injury-prone England midfielder, who has made two league appearances this season, was not expected to be back in action until January 2010 after undergoing knee surgery last November.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is reportedly set to be rewarded for an outstanding season with a £1 million a year pay rise.

The Serbian defender was voted the club’s player of the season, after a series of stellar displays helped his side win yet another Premier League title.

Manchester United have opened talks with Gremio to sign Brazilian youngster Douglas Costa, according to various reports.

The highly rated 18-year-old has become a target for Sir Alex Ferguson since the announcement that Cristiano Ronaldo will be leaving Old Trafford for Real Madrid.

Nani has rubbished reports of a loan return to Sporting.

The Manchester United winger has already declared that Cristiano Ronaldo's imminent exit will enable him to have more opportunities at Old Trafford.

And he reacted with bemusement to English press reports that he could rejoin his former club on a temporary basis next season.

Manchester City's newest signing Roque Santa Cruz hopes Carlos Tevez joins him at Eastlands this summer.

The Paraguay international striker sealed his move to City on Monday from Blackburn for a fee believed to be in the region of £18million.

No sooner had the 27-year-old marksman put pen-to-paper on a four-year contract had he urged ex-Manchester United ace Tevez to follow suit.

Louis Saha says he does not want to leave Everton despite interest from Turkish side Besiktas.

The 30-year-old France striker has endured another injury-hit campaign and Besiktas revealed this week that they were hoping to tempt the player away from Goodison Park.

Louis Saha says he does not want to leave Everton despite interest from Turkish side Besiktas.

The 30-year-old France striker has endured another injury-hit campaign and Besiktas revealed this week that they were hoping to tempt the player away from Goodison Park.

Michael Carrick last night withdrew from the England squad for this month's 2010 World Cup qualifiers, leaving Fabio Capello one central midfielder light as his players train for the first time today.