Puyol's agent admits offers

Planetfootball.com revealed earlier this week that Puyol was wanted by an unnamed Premiership club and it has now emerged that United are that club.

Puyol has hit the headlines in Spain after rejecting Barcelona's offer of two-year extension to his contract.

The 24-year-old is contracted at Camp Nou for another two years, but he rejected the chance of extending his stay until 2006.

"It is no longer a question of money, but about the feeling of being wanted," said Puyol's agent Ramon Sostres.

New Barcelona coach Luis van Gaal has already told the club that he wants Puyol to stay, but Sostres has confirmed that there is offers.

"It is true that we have offers, but if he does leave it will be for a club that is of the same stature of Barcelona."

Sostres comments seem to back up the fact that bids are from Madrid and Manchester - two of the only clubs in the world who could claim to be as big as Barca.

Puyol has developed into a world class defender over the last few years and it is no surprise that both Real and United have recognised this.

Barca would be loathed to sell any of their squad to Real and so that would seem to give United an obvious advantage.

Reports from Catalonia are suggesting that Real are prepared to wait until 2004 for Puyol's contract to expire, but United are ready to test Barca's resolve with a bid this summer.

However, it seems that United are only likely to press home their initial interest, should they fail with their move for Juventus' Lillian Thuram.