Manchester United have made an approach for David Silva of Valencia. The player’s agents were contacted by fax, yesterday, and informed of the Premiership club’s interest in the 22 year old Spanish international.

United’s move for David Silva is timely: the player has been in talks with the new regime at the Mestalla over an improved contract offer, but negotiations have stalled, with both sides said to be some considerable distance apart in their respective bargaining positions. With talks rescheduled for later next week, the news that Silva has rejected Valencia’s latest offer has travelled fast and, in spite of Sir Alex Fergusons suggestion that United’s activities in the transfer market were over, it is clear that an opportunity to sign a player of the calibre of David Silva is too good to let pass for the current European Champions.

United face competition from FC Barcelona who are also preparing a bid for Silva. The Catalans have been waiting in the wings to see how the situation at the Mestalla unfolds, and with Valencia said to be in urgent need of funds to pay off a sizeable instalment on their massive debts next month, Barcelona had been optimistic that a bid approaching €25 million would be enough to secure the extremely talented Spanish international.  Silva’s prospective suitors were given further hope yesterday:  with David Villa’s agent suggesting that it was increasingly likely that Valencia’s other most valuable asset would remain, it would appear that it is David Silva who will be sacrificed in order to bring some much needed cash to the financially troubled club.