THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Manchester United are in talks with French side Nantes about setting up a partnership scheme to develop young players. The agreement would include a system for swapping youth team players and combining expertise on coaching and merchandising.

Nantes sources revealed the link-up could be finalised by next week, although there would be no financial investment by either club.

A deal with Nantes, whose youth academy produced Didier Deschamps and
Marcel Desailly, would allow United access to the club's next generation of stars.

"We're attracted by the quality of the coaching system at Nantes and the pooling of young talent," said United spokesman Paddy Harverson.

"We're looking to cast our net as wide as possible.

"For us, it's about a joint youth development and access to young players.

"We'd be able to send our youngsters over to benefit from French coaching."

Manchester United brought in Francisco Filho to coach their 17-year-olds in July.

The Brazilian-born Frenchman had been at France's famous Clairefontaine national soccer school and has close links to Nantes staff.