United, Liverpool and City all plan swoops for Rennes midfielder Mbia

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United's neighbours Manchester City are also believed to have made an approach for the £5million-rated Rennes star.

Mbia inspired his country to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last month, scoring two goals at the tournament in Ghana, and has had an outstanding season with the French club.

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Blue suede shoes: Stephane Mbia skips past Hosny Abdrabou Abdel of Egypt during last months Africa Cup of Nations Final

The 21-year-old revealed: "I've received offers from some big clubs, and will think hard about them once the season is over.

"I have had contacts from Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. Barcelona and Lyon are also interested, as are clubs in Italy.

"But I won't get carried away. It will be down to me to make a choice, and I will take the advice of my parents and Rennes manager, Pierre Dreossi," he added on website Mercato 365.

Mbia can operate as a defensive midfielder as well as at right-back.

The 6ft 1in powerhouse, who joined Rennes in 2004 from the Kadji Sports Academy based in his home city Yaounde, Cameroon, was involved in a "racial" incident with Milan Baros last year.

The Portsmouth striker, then of Lyon, maintained his innocence after being accused of racially abusing Mbia in a Ligue 1 match.

The incident occurred in April 2007 when French television showed the former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker pinching his nose and waving his hand at Mbia as if he was repelling an offensive odour.

The Cameroon player said at the end of the game he had been "deeply hurt by the gesture."

The Czech international, who joined Lyon in January from Aston Villa, said in a statement that he regretted his gesture but denied it was meant to be racist.

"Milan Baros merely wanted to tell (Mbia) something he didn't know how to say in French: 'leave me alone and give me breathing space'," a Lyon statement read.

"Milan Baros has always denounced any form of racism, in sport and in life in general. Olympique Lyon share Baros's commitment against racism," the club added.

Judge for yourself by watching the footage below...