Fergie To Snap Up David Silva??

Sir Alex Ferguson will soften the blow of Cristiano Ronaldo's £80 million sale to Real Madrid by snapping up Valencia star David Silva.

I understand Manchester United boss Ferguson has urged his chief executive David Gill to tie up a £24million deal having tracked the 23-year-old Spain winger all season.

Silva topped United's hit-list even BEFORE Ronaldo was given permission to join Madrid last week. United's scouts have watched Silva since December and Fergie has been impressed with the feedback on a versatile player who can play on either flank or as a second striker.

Silva's clubmate David Villa is also on United's radar - but sources in Spain are convinced he will join Real Madrid's circus of stars in a £40m deal.

Cash-strapped Valencia will fight to keep both players but a combined pot of £64m will be difficult for them to resist.

Fergie, who is on holiday in the south of France, is juggling other transfer targets with 21-year-old Lyon striker Karim Benzema a long-standing favourite.

But Lyon last night warned United they plan to hold on to the £35m-rated star for another year.

Bernard Lacombe, the club's transfer adviser, said: "Our idea is to keep Karim for another season.You can never say never but Lyon's fax machine is not overheating."

Antonia Valencia is another winger Fergie covets but he views Wigan's £18m asking price as too high.

The same applies to Bayern Munich's £65m valuation of 26-year-old Franck Ribery who cost them £22m two years ago.

One deal Fergie will hope to pull off is the £4m signing of Feyenoord's 17-year-old Luc Castaignos.

Fergie's spies have been on his trail for months and he has now made an offer.