Thiago the back-up plan for United

GettyImagesThiago Alcantara is on the radar of Manchester United.

Manchester United have their eyes fixed on Barcelona with the Daily Mail reporting that the Red Devils will try to sign young star Thiago Alcantara if they fail in their bid to capture Cesc Fabregas. Alcantara starred in the Spanish under-21 squad as they captured the recent European Championships, but has failed to find the same success in the Barcelona squad, limited to just a handful of starts. The 22-year-old's search for first-team action could make him the bargain of the summer - available at a cut-price £15 million. But Fabregas remains new United manager David Moyes' number one target, the former Arsenal captain seen as the perfect fit for the United engine room.

Talking of Arsenal, the north London club has been all over the rumour mill recently. Firstly, the Mirror are suggesting that the club are just days away from announcing the signing of Real Madrid attacker Gonzalo Higuain, while the same outlet, along with The Sun, believe the asking price for Swansea defender Ashley Williams has out-priced the Londoners. Finally, the Daily Star is reporting that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger tried to hijack West Ham's move for Andy Carroll. The England international's signing for the rival club obviously ending that coup.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's want-away striker Luis Suarez could be heading to Italy and into the arms of another Liverpool hero - Rafael Benitez. According to the Mirror, Napoli boss Benitez is resigned to losing Edinson Cavani and has targeted Cavani's Uruguay team-mate as the perfect replacement. Brendan Rodgers' response? Sign a 14-year-old. The Daily Mail reporting the Liverpool manager has signed youngster Herbie Kane from Bristol City.

And finally, Manchester City duo Aleksandar Kolarov and Carlos Tevez are targets for Serie A champions Juventus. According to the Daily Mail, Kolarov is the perfect fit for a side that claimed domestic honours but failed on the European stage. Tevez on the other hand has been a long term target for the Turin giants who will need to front a £9 million transfer fee to secure the Argentine's services.