Thuram puts Man Utd on transfer wish list
( 2001-06-08 09:55 ) (7 )

French international defender Lilian Thuram says he is interested in signing for Manchester United this summer but the English champions face a fight with some of Europe's biggest clubs for his signature.

The 29-year-old World Cup winner, who has played for Italian side Parma since 1996, has also attracted the interest of Italian sides Lazio, Juventus and AC Milan, as well as Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Even though he would cost United a British transfer record 20 million pounds ($27.68 million), manager Alex Ferguson is known to have a strong interest in the player.

Speaking on the BBC website on Thursday, Thuram said: "There are clubs that any player would happily go to. Manchester United are one of them.

"If Parma have set a price, that says they have every intention of letting me go. They are not crazy.

"They know what they are doing by setting a price and they know that I am thinking about leaving.

"In previous years they have been uncompromising. This time they are not. They have not declared me untransferable."

Thuram's agent Oscar Damiani told French newspaper L'Equipe: "We have to wait for a week before we can clarify things. "The club (Parma) president Stefano Tanzi is in South America and should return around June 12.

"What I can say is that all the top clubs are interested but their offers have not met the demands of Parma."