Thuram lined up if Ferdinand move fails - claim

Manchester United are set to launch a £15m (€23.4m) bid to sign Lilian Thuram if they fail to prise Rio Ferdinand from Leeds, claims the Daily Star.

The paper says Sir Alex Ferguson has already lined up a cut-price deal for the French international as back-up if Ferdinand decides to snub a move to Old Trafford.

Thuram's agent, Fabio Parisi is quoted saying: "Thuram's future could be decided shortly. Manchester United will either buy him or Ferdinand.

"If Thuram doesn't go to United, then he will stay at Juventus because there has been no other interest in him."