Charlie Taylor, of Leeds United has been mentioned, but don't be surprised if Manchester United shop in France this January regarding cover for Luke Shaw.

With the England ace now recovering from his double leg fracture, United manager Louis van Gaal will need a new left-back and has already met with scouts to set out his requirements.

The interest in Taylor is obvious - young, energetic and someone who is going to push Shaw when he recovers and is available next year.

But the same sources which first alerted us to Chelsea's - and ultimately Manchester United's - move for Anthony Martial, have told tribalfootball.com that Benjamin Mendy is under serious consideration at Van Gaal's Carrington office.

United made enquiries for the Olympique Marseille fullback in July and after Shaw's nasty injury in Eindhoven, plans to bring Mendy to Old Trafford could now be brought forward.

"There are indeed many real contenders," Mendy's agent, Meissa N'Daye, declared when the United news was breaking. "The interest is real and well deserved in light of his value and his steady growth."

N'Daye went on to discuss the prospect of Mendy extending his OM deal: "He is happy at Marseille where he wants to win trophies. The club's ambitions go hand in hand with him.

"We are on track to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties."

However, the 21 year-old's contract remains untouched - running to 2017.

The approach from United wasn't their first for Mendy, who is also being watched by Juventus this season. The irony being Juve see the youngster as the ideal successor for ex-United captain Patrice Evra.

"I am ambitious, but I must take my time and keep my feet on the ground," says Mendy, conceding that he does have ambitions beyond OM and Ligue Une.

"I'm with a great club, for me the best in France. It's a great stepping stone, it's true that I think about the future.

"But I also think OM can take me very far."

Mendy makes no secret he owes much of his early career success to former Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Arriving two years ago from Le Havre, Mendy was viewed as an attacking midfielder - until he came under Bielsa's management. The Argentine deployed him as an outright left-back, exploiting his attacking qualities while working closely with Mendy to improve his defensive game.

"He made me feel better in training," recalls Mendy. "We did a lot of defensive drills. You had to do them to his standard - otherwise he would shout at you!

"He introduced me to a new mentality. Coming from abroad, everything was different. He had us doing more technical training. He was a very hard worker and a real tactician."

Mendy adds: "Bielsa made all the players feel more confident about themselves. Personally, I felt more confident, I had more responsibilities, mentally... I am stronger."

Bielsa, before his dramatic resignation at the start of the season, declared Mendy was a "€30 million player".

"It's true he said that," continues Mendy, "and that's nice.

"But after saying that, it's up to me to prove it on the field."

Mendy insists the talk about United and Juventus won't go to his head.

"I remain focused on my goals, producing good performances with Olympique de Marseille..."

Those goals mentioned also include earning a place in Didier Deschamps' France squad for next year's home Euros.

"Without having a big head - and I'm someone who has a good head on his shoulders - I think I can make this (Euros) team," says Mendy.

"The Euros is one of my goals. For me, Layvin (Kurzawa), is a very great player. Lucas Digne also. Layvin, he is very good offensively. He has more experience than me in certain areas.

"But playing at your best is the only way to be selected.

"My dream is to play for France. If you're cheating (at club level) you're never going to make it. I know this."

Which is the quandary facing United, Juve and anyother major power ready to compete for Mendy's signature come the New Year. They know waiting until after the Euros could see Mendy's price skyrocket. But convincing the player to leave OM and so placing his Les Bleus hopes at risk could prove difficult, perhaps nigh impossible given Mendy's comments just last week.

"I still have things to do at OM. I want to win titles here. Yes, I want to extend (my contract)."

But as United proved with Monaco and Martial, outside of PSG, French clubs are vulnerable to the spending power of rivals abroad.

If United and Juve try again in January, Mendy and his minders could be forced into a major career gamble.