Manchester United have entered the race to bring £30million Brazil attacking midfielder Willian, a target for Liverpool and Tottenham, to the Premier League.
Liverpool are said to be in advanced discussions with Willian's club, Anzhi Makhachkala, regarding a move for the 25-year-old and remain confident of landing him while Tottenham retain a long-term interest in the former Shakhtar Donetsk forward and are ready to revive that interest, particularly if Gareth Bale completes his protracted move to Real Madrid.
But United have now made their own enquiry and Old Trafford is believed to be Willian's preferred destination.Willian has told ESPN he would be open to a move to Liverpool, saying: "There was the Manchester City bid that was turned down. Now I'm waiting for a new bid to arrive in the next days from a few clubs, like Liverpool. If it's really Liverpool, then it is surely a great club. I'm hopeful and very calm, just waiting for the best.
"England is my goal. I like the Premier League very much, I enjoy the English football and certainly, if that happens, it will be very good for me and for my image."
United manager David Moyes has a back-up option in his old Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini but is mindful that the Belgian would not be the headline signing he wants as his first piece of transfer business at United.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez yesterday warned United to forget about trying to take Fellaini on the cheap. Moyes is expected to launch a bid to land Fellaini, for whom he broke Everton's transfer record when buying him for £15m in 2008.
Everton have not received an offer for Fellaini since the £23m buy-out clause in his deal lapsed on July 31 and it is thought United will offer less than £23m.
But Martinez warned: "When you are in a strong position financially you will never sell a player for less than the buy-out clause. But we haven't received an offer for Fellaini. Maybe clubs know he is happy at Everton."
The Leighton Baines situation is simpler, after Everton rebuffed United's £12m bid. "They said it was their final offer," said Martinez.
Willian and Roberto Martinez were quoted in Sportsmail.
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