Football in Brief: Berbatov comes along for the ride as United defy the Manchester gloom

(AFP/Getty)

Despite wet weather and that chastening Champions League defeat, thousands of Manchester United fans lined the city's streets for a Premier League trophy parade yesterday which at least lifted supporters' spirits going into the close season.

One notable figure on the open-top bus was Dimitar Berbatov, who was left out of the match-day squad against Barcelona on Saturday and is being strongly linked with an exit from Old Trafford this summer.

The Bulgarian striker's United future was further clouded by the comments of the club's chief executive, David Gill, who suggested he would spend coming weeks trying to bring in new players to strengthen Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.

"It will be a busier than usual summer," Gill said. "I'll be going away in June and be back for the start of our tour, but I will be getting on with player stuff for the next few weeks, I'm sure."

Four clubs chase Sweden's Larsson

The Sweden midfielder Seb Larsson is attracting interest from four Premier League clubs following his release from Birmingham, according to his agent. One is thought to be Sunderland, as Steve Bruce worked with him at St Andrew's.

Larsson's agent Per Jonsson told the Sunderland Echo: "Seb has a few offers from some good clubs that we are looking into at the moment. By the first or second week in June, everything should be sorted out. Four clubs have made approaches. There is no problem finding a club in this case."

Carrick carrying an ankle problem

The Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is the only injury doubt in Fabio Capello's England squad for Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley. The squad met up at the Grove hotel in Hertfordshire last night. Carrick may miss training today with an ankle problem picked up during the Champions League final. Sam Wallace