Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is launching a bid to find Paul Scholes' long-term successor.

The Manchester Evening News says the Glazers have vowed to back his hunt for a replacement for 35-year-old Scholes with the £80m from Cristiano Ronaldo's sale to Real Madrid still available.

Portuguese midfielder Miguel Veloso and Croatian playmaker Milan Badelj are Fergie's top targets.

Badelj, a 21-year-old from Dinamo Zagreb, has been dubbed the new Zvonimir Boban in his homeland - and the former AC Milan star was a one-time target for Ferguson in the 1990s. While Fergie is sure to cast his eye over the World Cup in South Africa, he usually tries to conclude his business before major tournaments to avoid inflated prices.