New striker talk returns as January sales begin...

Reports in the press are once again linking United with Berbatov, but the bad news is that it's thought any offer for the Spurs striker won't happen until the summer. Fergie has recently gone on record saying that January is problematic and he's hinted that Europe is uppermost in his thoughts and of course the Bulgarian is cup-tied. Ramos the Spurs manager has also said that Berbatov is going nowhere, but as we have seen in the past the North London club will sell to United if the price is right.

Despite Fergie's views about Europe, the Reds still need to sign a new forward for the domestic competitions, this was highlighted against West Ham at the weekend when United needed to change the game, but they had no striker on the bench - which is a ludicrous situation for a club of United's size.

While the Reds are in need of a new striker whoever comes in has to be the right player and the last thing United need to do now is to make a panic buy - that is the danger when you're short of numbers and once again Reds fans might wonder about the wisdom of allowing Rossi to move on last summer.

January is of course by tradition the time of year when retailers try to off-load old and unwanted stock. The January transfer window is football's equivalent in many ways and it only came into being a few seasons ago, but many managers believe that the old transfer system worked better for the clubs and the players.

The Reading manager Steve Coppell has today voiced his concerns about the January transfer window, hinting that some of his players have been tapped-up and at the same time he has insisted that Nicky Shorey who has been strongly linked to the Red Devils is going nowhere.

Reds gearing up for new year sales, as Heinze talks of revenge....

Reports claim that there could be some activity in the January transfer window with Reading's left-back Nicky Shorey reportedly wanting to join the champions after refusing the offer of a contract extension.

United currently only have one specialist left-back in the form of Patrice Evra who ousted Gabriel Heinze who eventually moved on to Real Madrid after his preferred option of joining Liverpool was blocked by the Reds. The former United left-back has angrily spoken out about the champions blocking that transfer to tomorrow's opponents Liverpool. The Argentine says that he has no problems with the United fans, but it's a different story where the club's directors are concerned. The Real Madrid defender would like to meet the Reds in the Champions League and he says that his current team would be favourites.

Meanwhile, struggling Sunderland continue to be linked with Jonny Evans, team-mate Wes Brown is also said to be high on Roy Keane's wanted list. Ferguson recently hinted that some of his younger players could go out on loan and that option is more likely where Evans is concerned as Gerard Pique appears to have overtaken the young Northern Ireland international in the Old Trafford pecking order.

As for the future of Wes Brown a lot will depend on how much Sunderland offer and whether or not the player fancies a move to the North East.

Fergie set for transfer swoop?

With the transfer window set to open, reports are linking United with two left-backs, the latest name to emerge is Branislav Ivanovic (23). the Serbian defender is currently playing for Lokomotiv Moscow, reports claim the fee could be as much as £10m which seems like an awful lot of money for a fullback (we will always make comparisons to Dennis Irwin who cost the club buttons to sign but went to on to become a red legend). Ivanovic is under contract until December 2011 and it's thought that Fergie will no doubt have consulted Vidic on his fellow Serb who is another international.

The Reds have also been linked to Reading's Nicky Shorey who is apparently stalling on signing a new deal. Shorey has 18 months remaining on contract.