MANCHESTER UNITED TRANSFER RUMOURS: Modric, Elm, Alba, Asamoah And Anderson Involved In Recent Speculation

Manchester United may have received a boost in their pursuit of Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric, with reports that Real Madrid's interest in the player has lessened in recent days. That is the word from the Daily Telegraph, and, if, true, will increase United's chances of landing the coveted midfielder, with Real thought to be frontrunners for his signature.

Real were ready to offer a clash-plus-player deal involving Nuri Sahin, but the Turkish midfielder has said that he is eager to remain at the Bernabeu. However, United's hopes of signing the 26 year are old are still complicated by a number of factors. Tottenham would obviously prefer not to lose their star player to a rival English club, and, according to the Telegraph they value Modric at a staggering £50 million.

That is a fee that neither United nor any other top European club will pay and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will surely be prepared to accept less. That would be especially true if, as has been reported, Modric hands in a transfer request in the coming days. It seems unlikely, though, that United will go in excess of £30 million for the Croatian, who is also being targeted by Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

With Modric potentially arriving, current United midfielder Anderson could be on the way out. Through inconsistent form and a succession of injures, the Brazilian has failed to establish himself as a regular presence in the United first team since arriving in a big-money move from Porto in 2007. In recent days he has been linked with a return to the Portuguese club as a make-weight in a deal to bring winger James Rodriguez to Old Trafford.

The 24 year old could has also been talked about in connection with a move back to his first club, Gremio. Paulo Odone, president of the Brazilian outfit, has claimed that Anderson is eager for a return to his homeland.

It's no use that a player wants to come to Gremio, he said, according to Manchester United's website. Carlos Eduardo [of Russia' Rubin Kazan] is eager to return and Anderson wants to come back but they have a contract with their clubs.

United has also been linked this summer with a move for Udinese midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah. With talks over the Ghanaian's proposed move to Juventus reportedly stalling, it had been suggested that United remained in the running . However, Asamoah's agent, Claudio Vagheggi, has confirmed that a deal has been finalized to take the midfielder to Turin.

Also linked to United in recent times has been Swedish star Rasmus Elm. The 24 year old currently plays in the Netherlands at AZ Alkmaar and is best known as a wide left midfielder, but can also be deployed centrally.

United, as well as Liverpool and Hamburg, are thought to be chasing Elm's signature this summer. The player's agent, Patrick Moerk, has said that his client will make a decision on his future imminently.

The interest in Rasmus is still big, Moerk said, according to Sky Sports.

He will probably decide whether he will stay with AZ or move soon.

As expected, United have missed out on the signing of Spanish left back Jordi Alba, Barcelona have confirmed that the 23 year old has joined them from Valencia for £11.2 million on a five-year deal, subject to a medical.