Manchester United and Liverpool may be forced into bidding early for AS Monaco midfielder Jeremy Menez.

Both Premiership giants are monitoring the 20 year-old this season with a view to moving for the playmaker in the summer.

However, Gazzetta dello Sport says Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is ready to release significant transfer funds in January and a deal for Menez is high on the agenda.

United and Liverpool have made contact with Monaco in the last month about Menez's situation, however Inter believe they have the inside-running having struck a good relationship with the French club during negotiations for wing-back Maicon last year.