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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing a £20 million bid for Lyon striker Karim Benzema as he looks to secure the youngster's signature before the start of Euro 2008.

Print This Story Send To A Friend Contact Us galleria zoom The likes of Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all been linked with the 20-year old, who is one of Europe’s most promising youngsters after again impressing this campaign, firing twenty goals as Lyon claimed their seventh consecutive league title.

Ferguson, who has become increasingly frustrated with Louis Saha’s injury problems this season, is now set to move for Benzema within the next week to avoid having to pay more should the youngster impress for France this summer.

If The Red Devils fail in their bid to land the player already dubbed a new Bleus legend in France, Ferguson has a shortlist of forward candidates which includes Tottenham Hotspur’s majestic striker Dimitar Berbatov, Sevilla’s Fabiano and West Ham United’s Dean Ashton.

The 66-year old has been handed a hefty transfer budget by the club’s owner Malcolm Glazer, an amount that could be made all the larger should Cristiano Ronaldo opt to leave Old Trafford for Real Madrid within the next three days.

William Wood