United still in hunt for 'cut-price' Di Canio and Forlan

Manchester United are hoping to sign the two strikers Diego Forlan and Paolo Di Canio at cut-price rates.

United have made a bid of around £4.5m for the Uruguayan striker Forlan but it has been rejected by his Argentinian club, Independiente. Attempts to sign Di Canio from West Ham are still on hold as the Red Devils are sticking to their original £1.5m offer, while the clubs are also haggling over who pays the Italian his "golden handshake".

United want to buy the pair for a combined £6m, the down-payment they received for Andy Cole from Blackburn 10 days ago. Their manager Sir Alex Ferguson thinks he is in a strong position as the Argentinian team are gripped by the financial crisis in the country. West Ham, meanwhile, will not want to contend with an upset Di Canio for too long.

Forlan says he wants to move to Old Trafford, but Independiente want closer to £7.8m. United's interest has alerted other clubs and they will have to push on with the deal or risk losing him elsewhere.

Di Canio's problems are complicated because he has a "loyalty" pay-off in his contract and believes he is due around £300,000 because he did not ask for a transfer. West Ham want £3m for him and, while they may settle for less, they want United to pick up the £300,000 tab in the negotiations.

United have told Ferguson he can sign both Forlan and Di Canio as long as he keeps within his budget. It would be easier if Dwight Yorke was sold, but that is proving difficult. Yorke's price – United would like £7m -– and his wages and age make him hard to place.

United have been wrongly linked with a £10.8m bid for Valencia's Argentinian centre-half Roberto Ayala. The South American is looking for a new contract – or a move to Italy – and United have not made an offer for a player who cannot play in the Champions' League because he is ineligible.

The Manchester City manager, Kevin Keegan, is ready to sign the Armenian international Pascal Bedrossian from the French side Lorient. The 27-year-old left-sided midfielder played a trial for City yesterday.

Bedrossian was born in France and has an EC passport, so he could join without needing a work permit. Keegan is looking for more midfield players as Dickson Etuhu is in dispute with the club and he could take Bedrossian for a knock-down fee.

Lorient want around £300,000 for Bedrossian, who is a free agent at the end of the season, but the clubs should be able to compromise. City still hope to sign the Sheffield Wednesday centre-half Leigh Bromby, but were told to wait until he played in the Worthington Cup semi-final last night.