United Fail With Bid for Spanish Star Silva, Says Player's Agent

Manchester United have failed with a bid for Valencia's attacking midfielder David Silva, according to the player's agent. Sir Alex Ferguson is eager to increase his attacking options before the Premier League season starts this weekend but Silva, who can play across midfield in an offensive role, would rather stay in Spain, Julio Llorente said.

"Manchester United made an offer for David Silva but this has been turned down by Valencia," the agent said. "Silva doesn't want to play in England because he is happy at Valencia. His family are settled and if he was to move it would only be to another Spanish club, like Real Madrid or Barcelona. David Silva will start the new season at Valencia."

Silva, 22, has been linked with a number of clubs this summer, including United and Liverpool but Llorente added that Valencia were unlikely to let him go. "Valencia have the power in their hands. David Silva can't go to another team because he has a contract for five more years."

Valencia's president, Vicente Soriano, is confident that both Silva and the club's star striker, David Villa, will remain at the club for the coming year. "I can assure you that Villa and Silva will continue this season at Valencia," he said yesterday.

Mike Ashley has revealed that Newcastle United still owe £27m in outstanding payments on transfer deals completed before the billionaire owner of Sports Direct bought the club last summer.

In a rare interview - with a new, official, club magazine - Ashley admits that he did not perform due diligence before buying Newcastle from the Hall family but suggests that, without his input, the

club could now be in a serious financial plight. "Financially, Newcastle United was in a difficult position because I really do think that it had over-extended itself," he said.

"We first heard about the potential sale on a Saturday and had the deal done by the Wednesday so if you are asking if we did due diligence before buying, then the answer has to be no. One of the most unfortunate things about Newcastle United's finances at that time was the amount of money still owed on players signed in comparison to the amount of income that was due in off players who had gone.

"There is still £27m net to pay on transfers that were done before I came. So probably in the latter years before we came in you could argue that the club was beginning to lose its way. It had also already taken up front payments from commercial deals and sponsorships which didn't help us at all."

Tottenham have confirmed the signing of the veteran goalkeeper César Sánchez from Real Zaragoza. The 36-year-old is expected to be the understudy for the signing from PSV, Heurelho Gomes. Sánchez, who has one Spanish cap, played in the Champions League final for Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.

Aston Villa yesterday completed the £7.8m transfer of 26-year-old Rangers defender Carlos Cuéllar on a four-year contract. The Scottish club are poised to use the funds from the deal to revive their interest in Glenn Loovens. A bid of £2.5m is now thought to be imminent for the Cardiff City defender.