Aston Villa keen on striker Macheda

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is eyeing striker Kiko Macheda.

The People says Sir Alex, Big Eck’s former boss at Aberdeen, was a major supporter of his fellow Scot’s move to Villa from Birmingham – and that friendship could help McLeish land United striker Macheda.

McLeish needs to replace Ashley Young, John Carew and Nigel Reo-Coker with Old Trafford striker Macheda a possibility.

Agent admits Macheda has struggled at Sampdoria

The agent of striker Kiko Macheda admits he's found his loan at Sampdoria difficult.

The Under-21 international joined Sampdoria on loan from Man Utd in January, but he’s found life tough.

“He played well at the start, then he was perhaps caught up in the vortex for survival,” Giovanni Bia told TMW.

“If even the older players couldn’t raise Sampdoria then a 20-year-old boy certainly wasn’t going to be able to do that.

“There is too much pressure and criticism in the Italian game and I think the player himself has been left disappointed by all of it.

“Although he settled well into the city, perhaps he rushed his return to Italy given that the game has different pressures here than in England.”

Sampdoria are currently in the bottom three, two points away from survival with just two matches remaining.

“I don’t know what will happen with Macheda next season, I’ll have to talk to Man Utd,” Bia added.

“Staying at Sampdoria could turn out to be a useful experience for him, even if they were playing in Serie B next term. However, it’s too early to say at the minute.”

Sampdoria sound out Man Utd about Macheda and West Brom ahead of Wigan for Kuszczak

Kiko Macheda could be on his way from Man Utd in the summer.

The Italy U21 striker has struggled to make an impact at Sampdoria since his January loan move.

And the News of the World says Macheda could be sold by United manager Sir Alex during the close-season transfer window.

Sampdoria are keen to discuss a permanent deal for the ex-Lazio striker, with United rating him in the £7 million class.

Meanwhile,Tomasz Kuszczak is set to re-sign with West Bromwich Albion.

The Polish goalkeeper, who joined United from the Baggies in August 2006, will jump at the chance of going back on a free transfer, says theMirror.

Kuszczak, 29, has been unable to push Edwin van der Sar out of the No.1 spot - and is resigned to the fact that Sir Alex will bring in a top-class replacement when the Dutchman retires this summer.

So the experienced United reserve has decided to move on and West Brom boss Roy Hodgson has teed up a deal – with the hint that he could squeeze ahead of Scott Carson and become the Baggies' first choice.

Wigan Athletic are also interested in Kuszczak but would rather keep Ali Al- Habsi, who is on loan from Bolton.

Macheda loves Premier League so much more than Serie A and Ferguson wants him back!

Kiko Macheda insists he will be returning to Manchester United in the summer.

The Italy U21 striker has endured a difficult loan at struggling Sampdoria in Serie A.

"I don't know why it hasn't worked for me at Sampdoria, perhaps people expected that I would replace Cassano," said Macheda. "But I'm not Cassano, I am Macheda.

"And the Italian football, the tactics, is different to the English. I prefer the English, more physical and faster.

"The chief scout from United does come to Italy to watch me play."

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Kiko Macheda has a big future at Old Trafford.

Macheda was farmed out on-loan to Sampdoria in January, where he has struggled for form since his arrival.

Ferguson insisted: "I speak to Macheda by phone. In June, I want him back.

"He is a natural scorer."

Macheda may return to Man Utd ahead of schedule from Sampdoria

Kiko Macheda could return to Manchester United early from his loan at Sampdoria.

The sacking of Mimmo di Carlo has cast doubt on Macheda's future in Genova.

Di Carlo has since been axed by the club, who have lost six out of their past nine games.

The Italian was instrumental in persuading Macheda to leave United on loan until the end of season and the rookie striker had claimed Di Carlo was one of the main reasons in his decision to move to Sampdoria.

Macheda might stay with Sampdoria!!

The agent of Kiko Macheda says the striker could extend his stay at Sampdoria.

Macheda is on-loan at Samp until June.

Giovanni Bia told TMW: "In June we will assess everything and we'll see. Kiko could stay another year because Sampdoria is the right club.

"But give him time."

Macheda confident of Man Utd future and is missing Man Utd life

Sampdoria loan striker Kiko Macheda is confident he has a future at Manchester United.

Macheda has not spoken to United boss Sir Alex for three weeks, but believes he still has a future at the club.

Macheda said: "I think Sir Alex is looking out for me. I spoke to him three weeks ago on the phone and I spoke to him before I came here.

"He said: 'If there’s anything you need, just call me.' Because he’s still my coach. I still feel like I’m in his long-term plans, of course. My ambition is to be part of Manchester United because that’s where I want to go.

"I’ve been at Sampdoria for a month now and I’m really happy. Obviously it’s not like Manchester United - because Manchester United is a proper club - but I’m happy to be here and I want to do well, for myself and the team.

"I’ve got six months on loan and I hope to do well to get back there even stronger to show what I can do."

After scoring the only goal in Italy's Under-21s' 1-0 win over Stuart Pearce's England kids on Tuesday, he said: "I'm looking forward to getting back to Manchester.

"I don't like the English weather but I do like the fish and chips. You can't get them in Italy and I miss them."

Macheda says priority is Man Utd future

Federico Macheda sees his future at Manchester United.

The Italian striker has signed on-loan with Sampdoria to the end of this season.

"First I want to see what prospects I have in England, and then if there aren't any..." he told Sky Sport Italia.

"I have always said I would like to return to Manchester in the Premier League so I can affirm myself with the Red Devils who are a top level club.

"They are also a step ahead in terms of organisation. [Sir Alex] Ferguson used to come and watch the youth games and he has always encouraged me. This never happened at Lazio."

Macheda also spoken of the day he copped the hairdryer treatment from Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson

Macheda is on-loan at Samp from United for the remainder of the season.

On his relationship with Ferguson, the Italian revealed: “One time he tore shreds off me when I got back to the hotel late after a night out.

“I do like it at Sampdoria, so if I see there aren’t many prospects in England, then I could stay on longer.”

Macheda on the scoresheet for Sampdoria draw with Udinese

Manchester United striker Kiko Macheda was delighted to get on the scoresheet for Sampdoria in their 2-2 draw with Udinese

Macheda was handed a first start by Samp coach Mimmo Di Carlo and did not disappoint.

"I am very happy, I wanted very much to do well, the game went very well, so now I hope to continue and do even better because I feel good physically, mentally, so I'm looking forward to the next game," declared Macheda.

"A great goal? I was very lucky because I pulled the ball to my left side and slammed the ball with the right. I was delighted that it went in. I hope to score many more."

Winning Sampdoria debut for Macheda!

Kiko Macheda was handed a Serie A debut by Sampdoria coach Mimmo di Carlo in yesterday's 2-1 win over AS Roma.

Macheda was sent on at the 77th minute with the scores locked at 1-1 and had two chances.

The first came from a through ball, which was just out of reach for the United striker to capitalise. The second opportunity came via a Luciano Zauri cross, when Macheda headed just wide with a diving effort.

Samp won late on through Stefano Guberti after a howling defensive slip by Roma's Juan.

Reasons for Kiko Macheda's loan move to Italy.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed the reasons for Kiko Macheda's loan move to Italy.

Macheda has made the switch to Sampdoria to break back into the Italy U21 squad.

"Federico feels he has been neglected on the international front," said Ferguson.

"This has given him an opportunity to play in Italy, where they can see him every week.

"We would have preferred him to play in the Premier League and he had opportunities to do that with several clubs.

"But he has made a good case and every player should always want to play for their international team."

Macheda brushes off Lazio link

Young Manchester United striker Federico Macheda has once again distanced himself from speculation linking him with a temporary return to Italy.

The 19-year-old has been linked with a number of clubs in his homeland after making a breakthrough for United towards the end of the 2008-09 season, but has subsequently found first-team opportunities hard to come by.

Bologna, Palermo and Lazio are among the Serie A sides that have been strongly linked with a move for the forward. Nevertheless, the hotshot is prepared to continue his education at Old Trafford rather than look elsewhere in search of first-team football, and believes the club is keen to keep him in their ranks as he develops.

"Will I be joining Lazio in the January transfer market? No, I don't think so," Macheda told Ansa.

"[Sir Alex] Ferguson has said that I am not for sale.

"What can I say, I am very pleased to hear that, especially as these words have come from a coach with the charisma and history of Ferguson."

Lazio agreed a loan deal for Macheda and have option to buy him this January!

Lazio have shown a masterly sense of transfer market craft as they agreed a deal with Manchester United for Federico Macheda.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that both clubs have agreed to a loan deal in January in which the Italian side will have an option to buy Macheda permanently at the end of the season.

The move was born from Sir Alex Ferguson's wish for Macheda to gain regular action - a similar idea to the one which saw Giuseppe Rossi move three years ago.

Ferguson was brutally honest with the Italian, making him aware that action was hard to come by at Old Trafford.

Macheda is said to have welcomed the move as he wants to play often and it's a return to the club he left three years ago for Old Trafford.

Macheda helping SAF to sign another striker..

Manchester United striker Kiko Macheda is proving key to the club's pursuit of Inter Milan ace Mario Balotelli.

Macheda is close friends with his Italy U21 teammate and has been texting the Inter star urging him to make the move to England, says fcinternews.it.

Today, Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, is due to meet with Inter director Marco Branco to discuss United's offer.

Macheda going nowhere next season!

Federico Macheda will not be leaving Manchester United on loan next season according to his agent.

The 18-year-old has been linked with a clutch of Italian clubs over recent weeks but his representative, Giovannni Bia, insists that the Red Devils have no plans to allow the forward to leave, even temporarily.

“Manchester United have no intention of sending him out on loan to anyone and for this reason I exclude any possibility of him being transferred in this transfer window,” Bia told the press.

Macheda made five appearances for United last season after making his debut in the previous campaign.