David Beckham tips David Moyes to win the league for Manchester United

The Old Trafford legend, speaking to Sky Sports News during a school visit as part of Sky Sports’ Living for Sport programme, is also hopeful that Wayne Rooney will stay at Old Trafford.

Regarding Moyes’ move to United, Beckham said: “I’m sure he has had lot of mentoring, he is one of those managers that has always picked up the phone and spoken to Sir Alex.

“It was always going to be diffcult job for whoever succeeded Sir Alex because of what the manager has brought to Mancester Utd, what he has brought to the game.

“It’s going to be interesting, but I still think United will win the league. I’m a Manchester United fan!”
David Beckham

“But the same players are there and I’m sure a few more will be added over the next few weeks. Being manager of Man Utd is a great job.”

Manchester United are ready to splurge on a world class player

Manchester United are ready to splurge on a world class player like Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale, after the club admitted they would back David Moyes if he wants to sign a ‘stellar player’ this summer.

New manager Moyes has only made one signing so far this summer, with Guillermo Varela joining for an undisclosed fee.

But the club’s chief executive Ed Woodward insists the resources are there to recruit top-drawer talent and said they are ‘absolutely’ able to compete for players in the £60million-£70million bracket.

Aiming high: Manchester United could yet make a move to sign Gareth Bale in the summer transfer window

‘We haven’t got money burning a hole in our pocket but we have got a strategy on player purchases and if David wants to go after a stellar player he can do that,’ he said.

United have been linked with Tottenham star Bale – a player that Moyes’ predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign in 2007 before he joined Spurs – and there has also been speculation regarding a sensational bid to re-sign Ronaldo, who left United for Real Madrid in 2009 for a world-record £80million fee.

The Red Devils’ pursuit of playmaker Thiago Alcantara appears likely to end in defeat, with the Barcelona man now looking set to link up again with his old boss Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

United have also been strongly linked with Thiago’s club-mate Cesc Fabregas and may now look to step up their interest in the former Arsenal captain, who would certainly fit the bill as a big-name recruit.

‘The way we worked with Alex was he would identify the transfer targets and take them to (joint chairman) Joel (Glazer) and (former chief executive) David (Gill), who would have discussions which ended with them backing him in the transfer market every single time and we see that continuing with David Moyes,’ Woodward added.

‘We could have broken the transfer record in the past if we’d wanted to. Alex may not have got all the players he wanted but that was never down to not releasing funds. There’s never been a cut-off price.’

United’s record signing remains the 2008 acquisition of striker Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham for £30.75million.

Wayne Rooney was another player United brought in for big money, but they appear relaxed about the prospect of his contract running down as speculation continues over the England forward’s future.

Respect: Cristiano Ronaldo refused to celebrate after netting in the Champions League tie against United

Old favourite: Ronaldo left Sir Alex Ferguson’s team for a record £80million in 2009 for the Bernabeu

Moyes has been repeating his mantra about wanting Rooney to stay, albeit pointing out he will not let any single player become bigger than the club. Woodward says United are not currently giving Rooney’s contract any special attention, despite the obvious risk of the 27-year-old’s market value plummeting – or being wiped out altogether – over the remaining two years of his contract.

Speaking to reporters in Thailand prior to yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Singha All Stars, Woodward said: ‘There are no contract renewals that are being discussed. I am not sitting down with any player on an extension and there is no trigger date in the diary.

‘Would we be afraid to run a contract down? Of course not.’

On Friday, Moyes showed the first signs of becoming exasperated by the Rooney saga, stating: ‘Unless I was speaking double Dutch last week, we said Wayne Rooney is not for sale.’

Barca boys: United have also been linked with Thiago Alcantara (left) and Cesc Fabregas (right)

Yet, with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho managing to keep the forward’s name at the forefront of people’s minds and no confirmation from the player that he actually wishes to extend his nine years at United, Moyes is aware it will not go away, even though the player himself is sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

What he will not do is allow the issue to cloud everything else.

‘Wayne has got a major role to play. We need to get him as many goals as we can,’ Moyes said.

‘Wayne can play up on his own, he can play dropped in. Overall my thought on Wayne is, if for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie, we’ll need him.

Young Lion: England youngster Wilfried Zaha was signed under Ferguson’s tenure

Ramires believes Jose Mourinho can help Chelsea launch title challenge

Mourinho is back at the club he guided to back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, sparking optimism from the Brazil international that the Blues can enjoy a successful season.

“The environment during the first training sessions has been very good,” Ramires told Globo Esporte.

“Everyone is very excited and willing. We can feel positive changes happening. Mourinho and the new signings have contributed a lot to that.

“I might be wrong because we know how things are in football, but I think this season can be better than the 2011-12 one, when we won the Champions League.

“I see our team is ready, more interested and with the possibility of fighting for the Premier League title as well, which is something we haven’t done in the last few years.

“Let’s wait for the games to start and we will see what happens.”

Transfer news: Luis Suarez says ambition driving Liverpool exit plans

The Uruguay international has expressed a desire to leave Anfield after becoming disillusioned with life in England.

He has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Spanish giants Real Madrid are considered to the frontrunners in the race for his signature.

“This club needs to fight to enter the Champions League and, when it doesn’t happen, it damages the morale of any player. So I’ve suffered.”
Luis Suarez

Liverpool are reluctant to let the unsettled striker leave, with boss Brendan Rodgers in ‘constant communication’ with the South American, but Suarez has reiterated that he will push for a move if he can further his career elsewhere.

He said: “If I receive an important offer to progress my career, I will study it. Some clubs have asked about me but I hand questions over to my agent. I am no stranger to rumours.

“I always want to improve. That’s why I left Ajax for Liverpool.

“But this club needs to fight to enter the Champions League and, when it doesn’t happen, it damages the morale of any player. So I’ve suffered.

“It is hard to view the Premier League every week with never a chance of winning it.

“On top of that, the English media do not understand me. The controversies with (Patrice) Evra and (Branislav) Ivanovic were decisive. There are always extra questions when people analyse me.

“After the Evra incident, it was very difficult to convince people about the ‘real’ Luis Suarez. Things had improved but then the incident involving Ivanovic was another blow.

“Had that not happened, perhaps I would have been regarded as the best Premier League player last season.”

Transfer news: Liverpool encouraged in Christian Eriksen chase

The Reds are being linked with a £22million double swoop on the Amsterdam club for Denmark attacking midfielder Eriksen and Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld.

Eriksen has been coveted by a host of top clubs including Borussia Dortmund, but after last season’s UEFA Champions League runners-up brought in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, it is understood that Liverpool and Roma have been left to battle it out for the 21-year-old’s services.

The Dane said on Saturday that there was “some interest, but nothing concrete” as speculation over his next club grew.

Ajax coach De Boer accepts that Eriksen, who has a year left on his contract, is likely to leave this summer, with a fee of around £15million quoted.

And although he is unsure if Liverpool – with no European football at Anfield this season – is the best move for the player, De Boer says he will support him in whatever decision he makes.

“It is up to Christian what he wants,” said De Boer. “If he feels good going to Liverpool, then it is up to him.

“I would want nothing more than having him with us for a few more years.

“But we realise the interest in this kind of player is huge. And I can also understand that he wants to make another step in his career. I can’t stop him.”

Wayne Rooney will not be offered an extension to his Manchester United deal

But manager David Moyes has again stressed that the England man, who has been linked with Chelsea and Paris St-Germain, is very much part of his plans for the upcoming season.

Rooney, who has had to leave United’s pre-season tour with a hamstring injury, has two years left on his current contract but an extension is not on United’s agenda.

Chief executive Ed Woodward said: “No contract renewals are being discussed. I am not sitting down with any player on an extension and there is no trigger date in the diary.

“Would we be afraid to run a contract down? Of course not.”

Major role to play

However, Moyes still sees Rooney as a key figure at Old Trafford and said: “I think he’s got a major role to play, because we need to get as many goals as we possibly can.

“I think Wayne can play up-top, he can play dropped in. If for any reason we had an injury to Robin (van Persie) we’re going to need him and I want to be able to play the two of them.

“It’s a chance for me to get Wayne right back to where he was. That’s a challenge I want to take on.

“But I’ve also got to make sure we don’t just concentrate on him. Manchester United isn’t about Wayne Rooney.

“Manchester United is about the team, the club. What I won’t allow is Wayne Rooney to become more important than the football club.”

Schalke will overtake Dortmund, warns Heldt

Schalke general manager Horst Heldt has claimed that his side will leapfrog arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund in terms of quality in the near future.

BVB relinquished their Bundesliga crown to Bayern Munich last season after back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011 and, despite being praised for reaching the Champions League final, were beaten by the Bavarians on Europe’s biggest stage.

Heldt has high hopes that the Gelsenkirchen club – who finished fourth in the BuLi in 2012-13 – will become a better team than their Ruhr rivals soon.

“Dortmund have been ahead of us for a long time now,” he told Bild on Sunday. “However, we will overtake them again in the near future.”

Schalke have the likes of Julian Draxler and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to rely upon in the hopes of overtaking Dortmund this season, although Heldt was realistic about the chances of keeping Germany international Draxler in the long term.

“If Draxler keeps on developing at the same pace, we can expect him to leave the club at some point,” the Veltins Arena chief admitted.

In addition to their current squad, the Konigsblauen have signed the likes of Adam Szalai from Mainz for a reported €8 million, Leon Goretzka from Bochum and Felipe Santana from Signal Iduna Park.

Moyes shows Wayne who’s in charge.!

New manager Moyes and rebel striker Rooney were back together on the Carrington training ground yesterday with the rest of Manchester United’s squad.

Roo, who is wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea, today flies out for United’s 21-day money-spinning trip to Bangkok, Sydney, Japan and Hong Kong.

But Old Trafford managing director Richard Arnold insists the club’s commercial demands will not affect Moyes’ hunt for silverware.

He promised: “The No 1 objective for everyone at this club is to be the No 1 team on the pitch.

“We do nothing that will get in the way of that.

“We work very hard to make sure what we do is done in a way that minimises any impact on the players, both from a fatigue and distraction point of view.”

Arnold has secured huge deals including a record £357million shirt sponsorship with Chevrolet and a £40m partnership with Russian airline Aeroflot.

But Moyes knows he is under pressure to continue Fergie’s run of success.

He insisted: “I’ve always said the biggest thing in football is to win. I would always put winning at the top of the list and Sir Alex would as well.”