United in the news

Wayne Rooney targeted as next Real Madrid Galactico (IMscouting.com)

Spanish newspaper Marca has published this outlandish claim today and added that former Manchester United team mate Cristiano Ronaldo is eager to bring Rooney to the Bernabeu. More.

United fail with Di Maria offer (Tom Lawrence, News of the World)

The reds have had an official bid for Argentina star Angel Di Maria turned down. More.

Unuted join hunt for Chiellini (Greg Gobere, News of the World)

Fergie wants Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini. More.

Macheda set for Spanish switch (Aidan Magee, News of the World)

He has not appeared in the League this term and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is considering a loan request from Zaragoza's caretaker boss Victor Munoz. More.

United invite Belgian for second trial (Jeremy Butler, News of the World)

Fergie is leading the race to sign Belgian wonderkid Geoffrey Hairemans. More.

Cats eye move for Newcastle loan star Simpson (Steve Brown, Sunday Sun)

Sunderland are planning to hijack Newcastle’s permanent swoop for Danny Simpson. More.

Fergie told Darren Ferguson to quit Posh last summer (Peterborough Evening Telegraph)

"I told him it was time for him to leave but he had more faith in his team than I had and sadly it has turned out I was right." More.

Get to Birmingham for £20.50 - save £8.10

United face Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday, January 9, kick off 17:30 and, if you buy your train ticket on the day, you'll pay £28.60 for an off peak return.

But if you buy now via National Rail, you can get a return for £21.

On the way there, you can leave Manchester Piccadilly at 11:27, 12:07, 12:27, 13:07, 13:27, 14:07, 14:27 and 15:07 for £10.50 one way.

With a 19:30 finish at the latest anticipated, it will probably take you about 30 minutes to reach Birmingham New Street from the ground.

So if you were to get the 20:20 service to Crewe and then board the 21:19 to Manchester Piccadilly, a single will cost you £10.00.

The direct trains leaving at 19:57 and 21:57 cost £10.50 one way.

Match ticket information is here.

New United blog makes debut

While we took a short break, another United blog popped up, written by a poster called Red Rag.

It's called Red Rag to a Bull and offers the author's thoughts on the reds' recent performances, where we're going right and where we're going wrong.

Give it a read...and a few weeks to develop, as it's just getting off the ground. Here it is.

Fly to Arsenal for £78.40

British Airways and bmi are offering you the chance to get to the Arsenal v United game on Sunday, January 31 for just £10 more than the train.

If you were to buy your train ticket on the day, it would cost you £68.70.

But yet off with British Airways from Manchester t Gatwick on either the 06:40 or 09:00 flight and you can go one way for £39.60.

It then takes 73 minutes by train from Gatwick to Finsbury Park, with one change at London Victoria and regular services throughout the day. The one-way costs fair is £15. From there it's a 10-minute walk to the ground.

The match kicks off at 16:00, giving you plenty of time to reach Heathrow for a 20:55 flight back to Manchester for £38.80 one way with bmi.

All flight times are an hour.

It takes 77 minutes by train from Finsbury Park to Heathrow, with one change at Kings Cross and regular services throughout the evening. The one-way train costs £4.50.

United in the news

Serbian flop Zoran Tosic set for Manchester United exit (Alan Nixon, The Mirror)

Manchester United are trying to get rid of Serbian flop Zoran Tosic (pictured right) - and will let him go in the transfer window if they get the right offer. More.

Your hat trick was not enough (Dean Jones, The Sun)

MICHAEL OWEN'S recent Euro hat-trick has FAILED to boost his World Cup hopes. More.

Rio fears World Cup agony (Neil Custis, The Sun)

RIO FERDINAND could see his World Cup dream shattered. More.

Sir Alex Ferguson: I’ll outlast 20 Manchester City managers (James Ducker, The Times)

“Fourteenth? Is that all?” Ferguson said when the subject of Mancini and his predecessors as City manager was raised. “I can’t wait for the twentieth.”

Landlord introduces charity swear box (Marc Meneud, Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Tony Sheridan, 70, of Haworth, said: “We insist on one pound for a swear word and £3 if you mention Manchester United." More.

Seasons greetings

Birmingham home-end tickets still on sale

Home-end tickets for United's January 9 trip to Birmingham are now on sale.

Adult prices range from £23 in the Family Stand to £45 in the upmarket Club Class area.

United fans will share the Gill Merrick Stand with home fans. Ballot results for away-end tickets are available now.

In the lower tier of that stand, home-end tickets will cost £33 for adults, £16.50 for over 65s, under 16s and students aged under 22 with an NUS card, and £9 for under 12s.

You can book online here, but you have to register first. Or you can call 08 44 55 71 875 and choosing option 2.

A full travel and pub guide will be published here in the next few days.