The Guardian says Ferguson is to recommend to United's board that Benzema should be their primary transfer target this summer, although he is deeply aware that not only is there competition from a clutch of Europe's leading clubs but that Lyon might price him out of the Glazer family's reach.

Benzema's performance in Wednesday's Champions League fixture at Stade de Gerland, when he scored a superb individual goal and gave Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic as torrid a time as they have endured all season, has reinforced Ferguson's belief that he must explore the possibilities of putting him alongside Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in what might become the most feared forward line in the world.

If necessary, Ferguson could use Louis Saha in a possible player-plus-cash exchange.