Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly planning an ambitious bid to bring Manchester City defender Micah Richards to Old Trafford. The United boss is hoping the England international becomes only the third City player in the past 70 years to make the switch to their Manchester rivals. Although the Eastlands club have insisted all season that Richards is not for sale, the Sunday Mirror believe this will not prevent Ferguson from joining Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool in the race to sign him in the summer. Chelsea will pose the main threat to capturing Richards but United and Liverpool will be boosted by the knowledge that the 18-year-old's fmaily are keen for him to remain in the north of England.
Ferguson is planning to spend big this summer even if his current squad win the Treble and Richards - alongside Owen Hargreaves, Gareth Bale, Deco and Nani - is at the top of a wish-list he'll present to the American owners.
A source close to Richards told the paper: "There is interest from United, but whether anything happens is another thing given the rivalry in Manchester." Only Welsh striker Wyn Davies in 1972 and goalkeeper Tony Coton 11 years ago have moved from City to United since the 1930s.