Manchester United Transfer News: Kaka Offered to United by Real Madrid; Alexander Buttner In Shock Move to Old Trafford

Aug 20, 2012 12:16 AM EDT

Real Madrid are offering Kaka to Manchester United on a season-long loan deal, while Alexander Buttner has confirmed he is set to join the Old Trafford club as Sir Alex Ferguson's hunt for a left-back seems to have come to an end.

According to the Daily Mail, United are the preferred club for the Brazilian international, with Galatasaray and former club AC Milan also expressing an interest.

Real Madrid are keen to offload Kaka, who was an unused substitute for Real during their 1-1 draw against Valencia Sunday, after nearly sealing the move for Luka Modric from Tottenham Hotspur, and Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly considering the loan move, but is concerned by the injury record of the former world player of the year.

United have already brought in a playmaker in Shinji Kagawa, so it remains to be seen whether the Brazilian will indeed make his move to Old Trafford to become the second high-profile signing within a week, after the capture of Robin Van Persie from Arsenal.

In a shock move, United have agreed a €5 million (£3.9 million) fee with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem for left-back Buttner. United have been linked with a move for a left-sided full-back all summer, and after missing out on Jordi Alba, who signed for Barcelona, Ferguson seemed to have set his eyes on Everton's England international Leighton Baines.

However, now it looks like Buttner has been marked as the left-back that will give competition as well as take a load off Patrice Evra, who is well into his thirties.

"This is really a dream come true," Buttner told Dutch TV Station Omroep Gelderland.

"It was all arranged very quickly and of course I am very delighted. Happily everything is coming to an end.

"I'm travelling to Manchester this evening (Sunday) and I'm very delighted that such a big club bought me."

Buttner, who was a part of the preliminary Dutch squad for Euro 2012 before being cut, was the subject of bids from Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and Fulham, earlier in the summer.

Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs is confident United can make a perfect start when they face Everton in their opening game Monday. "Being away in your first game is always tough so we'll have to be up for it," he told the club's official website.

"We've had a decent record there over the years -- they're always good games which can be pretty quick and quite feisty which adds to the atmosphere.

"David Moyes' teams always work hard and you know you're in for a battle and that you'll have to work harder than them to win. We can talk about the quality players we've got in our squad but ultimately you need to work hard and make sure you start the season off well.

"It's certainly a good test to begin with and everyone is looking forward to it."

"The manager likes to lay down his ambitions for the season and look in the players' eyes to see if they're ready for the challenge and we are. It was a long summer and we can't wait to get going and put things right this time."

Rio Ferdinand will be out for three to four weeks, with the experienced defender suffering a leg injury during training. Ferdinand being ruled out will come as a huge blow for United, with other central defensive options Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans all out injured.

Ferguson will, most probably, be forced to play Michael Carrick in defence, in the game in which Van Persie is expected to make his debut.

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