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United are tracking the 20-year-old France international, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson having confirmed privately that he has an interest.

But Aulas claimed speculation over Benzema's future is unsettling the striker as Lyon prepare for Tuesday's Champions League second leg against United at Old Trafford.

Aulas said: "When Lyon, during the season, are interested in a player from another French club, everybody cries scandal.

"But when a few days before playing Manchester United I read here and there that Ferguson is going to make an offer for Benzema, is that not destabilisation?"

Benzema, who scored against United in the 1-1 draw between the teams last week, would cost in excess of £30m.

But team-mate Jean-Alain Boumsong admitted: "Money will make Benzema leave Lyon. We can't compete with Manchester United — they are the richest club in the world."

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League Two strugglers Macclesfield Town have appointed Keith Alexander as their new manager after parting company with Ian Brightwell and his No.2 Asa Harford. Brightwell rejected the chance to stay on as assistant to Alexander, 51, who steered Lincoln to four consecutive play-off finishes in League Two.

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Sunderland boss Roy Keane has transfer-listed Republic of Ireland international Liam Miller, just two months after culling his squad and telling seven players they can leave the club.

Former Manchester United midfielder Miller, 27, looked to be secure at the Stadium of Light after winning a regular spot in Keane's midfield.

But he now joins Stan Varga, Ian Harte, David Connolly, Graham Kavanagh, Greg Halford, Ross Wallace and Stephen Wright on the list. All except Wright are Keane signings.

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Everton have applied to enter the Intertoto Cup as an insurance policy against failing to qualify for Europe. Even though David Moyes's side are fourth in the Premier League and through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, chief executive Keith Wyness said: "Because of the deadline for Intertoto Cup applications, it would be remiss of us not to put our name forward."

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David Beckham has admitted he is still some way short of being fit enough to win his 100th cap for England. Beckham, in pre-season training with the LA Galaxy, said: "I would love to reach 100 caps, but I have to be physically ready to be part of the team. All I've done is training — I have no match fitness."

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Leeds chairman Ken Bates has warned that the row over their 15-point penalty must be settled quickly after the Football League's offer of independent arbitration following the club's High Court writ.

Leeds, docked the points in August when the League claimed they had not properly followed insolvency policy, would be lying second in League One if they had the punishment over-turned.

League chairman Lord Mawhinney has pledged to fight the writ 'robustly'.

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Andre Ooijer will be staying at Blackburn after manager Mark Hughes decided to take up the 12-month option on the 33-year-old Holland defender, a £2million target for Ajax and Feyenoord.

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Bolton midfielder Mikel Alonso is being lined up for a shock loan move to Hull City. Alonso, brother of Liverpool's Xabi, has not featured for Bolton since late November and is no longer in Gary Megson's plans. His loan spell at Bolton ends in the summer and he will return to Real Sociedad.