Manchester United Transfer Rumours: 4 Biggest Gossip Stories of the Week

Manchester United have been in ventilating form so far this preseason. They opened their US tour with a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution to kick off their participation in the 2011 World Football Challenge.

Having already added Ashley Young, David De Gea and Phil Jones to the squad, they have seemed satisfied for the most part with their transfer dealings.

However, the constant rumors surrounding Inter Milan's Welsey Sneijder have been a constant talking point, but with all the signs pointing to it not happening, I am omitting it from the top stories this week.

More things are happening closer to the immediate squad and club, and that is far more important gossip than far fetching rumors that are still not entirely accurate as far as we know.

There are still a few more games for the Red Devils before they return to England, but no matter where they go, the stories will follow. So without further ado, here are the top four stories for the Manc's this week.

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Ji-Sung Park: Is the Korean Staying or Going?

Ji-Sung Park has been a clutch-moment hero for the Red Devils at many times during his six-year career at Old Trafford. He has been rumored to be in middle of a stay or go decision for most of the week and has even been the subject of a major bid from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.

Despite those rumors, Park was reported at the beginning of the week to have no intentions of leaving according to his statements in an article from ESPNsoccernet.com:

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"There's no truth at all that I would leave United—I want to stay here, and I have no reason to leave.

"I would like to stay here for life, of course—why not? It's the best club in the world."

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However, Park's intentions and his heart seem to reside only in Manchester. Sir Alex Ferguson expects the midfielder to remain at United. The South Korean enjoyed scoring a goal in the club's recent thrashing of Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders 7-0.

His influence on the team as a veteran of the club has also been felt this week as he has called for the players to rally together to make up for the loss of retired midfielder Paul Scholes and compared the loss of the veteran to the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago:

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"We have to do it together.

'When Ronaldo left the club, everyone said it was bad for the team, but we still managed to perform and win trophies.

'It was just one player. We had to make up for that together. It is the same with Paul Scholes."

"

With everything said, Friday afternoon, Park was reportedly offered a two-year contract extension that more than likely will see him remain in England for the foreseeable future.

Dimitar Berbatov a Class Act According to Sir Alex

Sir Alex has made no secret this week that he has tremendous respect for striker Dimitar Berbatov and the player's class in handling his omission from the Champions League final. Ferguson told reporters that he would understand if the player had wanted to leave:

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"Yes, I'd understand that.

"But you could say that about them all. I don't pick the same team every week, do I? I've only done that once in the last three years.

"Yes, players will be disappointed they are not playing some weeks. But at the end of the day, it will help [the team]. By the time we get to the end of May next season, we will have done well."

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Reports surfaced this week that the Bulgarian forward could be set for a return to former club Tottenham Hotspur as the Red Devils seek to promote from within.

They have several young strikers waiting to take a shot at the first team in Frederico Macheda and Danny Welbeck, and Javier Hernandez has already appeared to take Berbatov's place. Aside from that, they still have Michael Owen to think about, who despite spending time injured, he produces when he is actually match fit.

With so much having been speculated, his manager also had this to add about the player when he looked back at all the tension that surrounded the Champions League final and the aftermath of Berbatov's storming out when told he was not in the squad:

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"What I have to say though is he (Berbatov) has been brilliant, first class,"

"His training has been terrific. Missing out on the final was not easy, but there were seven or eight players disappointed at not being involved in it."

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I still can see the Bulgarian remaining in Manchester for another season or two as the youngsters need time to transition into full time first team roles.

Manchester United Embraced on USA Tour

So far, since arriving in the United States the Red Devils have been welcomed with open arms, as the English Premier League Champions began their preseason tour with a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution.

Ji-Sung Park and Michael Owen both grabbed goals in the opening match for United in the 2011 World Football Challenge, and youngster Frederico Macheda added a brace of his own as the champions cruised.

They then flew out to Seattle where they spent a week training before taking on the Seattle Sounders in what was a clinic by the Red Devils. Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick in what would become a 7-0 victory, as the Champion's also debuted their new blue and navy away strips.

Owen and Park netted again, while Mame Biram Diouf and Gabriel Obertan both opened up their preseason accounts.

Now they are set to take on the Chicago Fire in their second game of the WFC. Several players have been involved with inter-sport relations as Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs welcomed the English team to the city with a pregame exchanging of pleasantries and memorabilia.

The United States has been a great host to the champions, and they also will play friendlies against the MLS All-Star's, FC Barcelona in a rematch of the Champions League final in Washington DC and also have a game lined up against the New York Cosmos as they look to give new life to one of the original founding clubs in US soccer history.

Wayne Rooney Backs Liverpool?

Wayne Rooney is off and running this preseason as he scored a hat trick in 21 minutes against the Seattle Sounders in the Red Devils' last friendly on their 2011 USA tour.

Rooney has been in the press this week as hoping to emulate the level of performance of Lionel Messi but has also been in the press for a reason many would not expect.

The reason being that he has voiced support of Liverpool, their biggest rivals, as a possible rival for the title this season. Many Liverpool fans have been expecting a much better chance to perform this season thanks to the extra rest afforded from not being involved in any UEFA competition this coming campaign.

It is unfortunate that there is no European football for the Reds as they have a special place in its history, but the extra time they will have to rest and develop at times this season could prove a menace to the other top six clubs.

With so many people knocking the signings of the Reds so far this summer, Rooney has come out and publicly praised Kenny Dalglish and the Liverpool backroom staff as reported by ESPNsoccernet.com:

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"Liverpool will challenge this time."

"They've made some really good signings under Kenny Dalglish, British players, and I'm sure they will try harder than they've ever done, fighting to be up there.

"They will think they have a chance of winning the title. The main threat is going to be from Chelsea, Liverpool , Arsenal and Manchester City. One of them, plus us, will be fighting for the title."

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I rest my case that Liverpool are legitimate contenders to have a go at the title. When one of the best attackers in the league is will to say publicly that his fiercest rival is back in the hunt, it makes it more believable.