Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to make an offer for Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.
The Mirror says former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth man Diarra is surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu following the capture of Germany World Cup star Sami Khedira.
And that presents United with an opportunity to capture the France midfielder on the cheap.
Fergie has tracked Diarra since his spell in England and with the midfielder unlikely to get many starts under Jose Mourinho this season the United boss is ready to pounce.
Diarra quit both Chelsea and Arsenal because of a lack of first-team action, before his displays at Fratton Park earned him a £20million move to La Liga two years ago.
While Real have put an initial £19million valuation on Diarra's head, that is open to negotiation with the Spanish giants looking to get the 25-year-old off their vast pay-roll.
