Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a host of offensive midfielders in recent weeks and months, most notably Eden Hazard and Nicolas Gaitan. Now three more names can be added to that list.
Athletic Bilbao's Oscar de Marcos, Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa and Sao Paulo's Lucas Moura are reportedly interesting the United manager as he looks to boost his midfield ranks for next season.
De Marcos is sure to be well known to those at Old Trafford after the Spanish international scored in each leg to knock the Red Devils out of the Europa League last month. And, according to the Daily Mirror, United's chief scout Jim Lawlor will be deployed to watch the 22-year-old in action after fellow scout Martin Ferguson saw him live last week.
The report states that there is a buy-out clause in De Marcos' contract of £26 million ($41m). With these clauses having little relevance, though, there is no suggestion that United would be willing to meet that price at this stage.
United have also been linked with Bilbao's Spanish internationals Iker Munian and Javi Martinez since the Basque outfit comfortably outplayed United in both games of their rounf-of-16 tie. While those two players have higher reputations than De Marcos at this stage, the latest Basque linked with a United move looks a good prospect and would likely be easier to lure to Old Trafford than either Munian or Martinez.
As well as an added option going forward, De Marcos would also offer some extra steel and tackling ability that is often sorely lacking in United's midfield.
A more orthodox number 10 who United have been linked with in the past couple of days is Japanese star Kagawa. The 23-year-old has been massively impressive this season as part of a Dortmund side that currently sits three points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga.
Possessing intricate dribbling ability and incisive passing, Kagawa also has an eye for goal, as testified by his 12 strikes in 24 league appearance during this campaign.
The Daily Mail reports that with Kagawa's contract running out in the summer of 2013, Dortmund want the 29-times capped Japan international to decide on his future iimminently.
"Shinji must now decide," Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc said, according to the Daily Mail. "We know he is flirting with clubs in England and Spain."
Dortmund have reportedly offered to double Kagawa's wages to try and tempt the player to stay at the Westfalenstadion. And If Kagawa does decide to move on then United will reportedly face competition from Chelsea for his services.
But with Mario Gotze having recently committed to a new contract, Dortmund appear determined to keep their young and highly-talented squad together for a real tilt at the Champions League.
Another offensive midfielder that United share an interest with Chelsea in is Brazilian Lucas Moura. In the stereotypical Samba mold, Lucas is a skillful dribbler and a bag of tricks on the ball.
Chelsea registered their interest in the 19-year-old in the January transfer window and are expected to go back in for the player in the summer, while Internazionale have also contacted Sao Paulo about a possible move, according to the Metro.
But according to Lucas' agent Wagner Ribeiro, United are also weighing up a transfer.
"I have to say that Inter, Chelsea and Manchester United have already been in contact with me about him," Ribeiro told Globo Esporte, according to the Metro.
But with the Brazilian game booming, Sao Paulo will be far from desperate to cash in on their talented youngster. And with the World Cup coming up in Brazil in a couple of years' time, at the tender age of 19, Lucas himself may decide it would be better for his development to hold-off a big European move for a while yet.
With all this talk of players arriving at Old Trafford in the summer, Ferguson will also be looking to clear out some of the club's deadwood. Chief among those set to leave is striker Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian has failed to ever earn the trust of his manager at Old Trafford and all noises coming from United's and Berbatov's camp point toward a parting of the ways come the season's end.
And the latest club to be linked with a move for the 31-year-old is Turkish giants Galatasaray, according to Caught Offisde.
Meanwhile the Daily Mail has emerged with a story that Sir Alex Ferguson is losing his patience over talented midfielder Paul Pogba's refusal to sign a new contract with the club.
This is a saga that has gone back and forth for months. At one stage it looked like a done deal that the 19-year-old would join Juventus, before the situation did a complete reversal and it seemed that Pogba was ready to commit to the club.
Pogba has been given an increasing role in the first-team in recent weeks and it would appear that if the Frenchman does not sign a new deal soon then he never will.
