Manchester United are ready to increase their scouting of Ezequiel Garay as the English Premier League leaders prepare a summer bid for the Benfica man.
Garay has been linked to United for a while now, with United scouts already watching the former Real Madrid player extensively over the past few months.
Sir Alex Ferguson is cranking up the pressure by asking his scouts to watch the defender closely until the end of the season to see whether he can make his presence felt in the Premier League, according to the Daily Mirror.
United are in search of cover at center-back with Rio Ferdinand's future undecided and the injury problems to Nemanja Vidic a constant cause for worry.
While the club still have the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans in their lineup, Ferguson is determined to land a solid central defender capable of leading the backline.
Garay has been in excellent form this season for Benfica and the 26-year-old is likely to be the subject of a big-money bid from United in the summer.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are planning an audacious move for their former goalkeeper David De Gea.
Atletico are consigned to losing on-loan Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois next season, and are planning a loan move for De Gea in the summer.
The future of De Gea remains up in the air, with United reportedly readying a bid for Stoke shotstopper Asmir Begovic.
De Gea is also reportedly homesick and desperate to move back to his home country. Barcelona and Real Madrid have also been linked with the keeper who is highly thought of in Spain.
Ferguson has repeatedly said he will not let go of De Gea, but if the keeper continues to keep making mistakes which costs United points, similar to the one against Tottenham, it might just change the manager's mind, especially with a keeper of Begovic's caliber available in the summer.
De Gea has been unfairly criticized by the media in recent times, as at 22, he is still far from reaching his peak. However, a move back to Spain might just be the tonic needed to turn himself back into one of the most competent keepers in Europe.
