NEW MIDFIELDER IN THE FRAME

Alex Ferguson has had another name added to his World Cup watch - Argentina's Esteban Cambiasso. The Inter Milan midfielder's name has emerged as part of a potential swap plus cash that would send Ruud van Nistelrooy to the San Siro.

The Serie A club are understood to be keen on taking United's out-of-favour Dutch striker to Italy but haven't enough cash to afford a probable asking fee of around £12m.

Inter owner Massimo Morati is reluctant to let Cambiasso go and was initially believed to have rejected the idea but if United insist that it is the only way a deal couild be brokered then the Italians may well relent.

Cambiasso helped Real Madrid to the La Liga title and the Intercontinental Cup before moving to Inter on a free in 2004 when his contract ran out.