Manchester United are ready to launch a £20 million bid for Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Mirror says United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants to get his hands on France World Cup keeper Lloris - but will have to pay Lyon £20million for their top shot-stopper.

Ferguson is ready to make a move for the tall 23-year-old as he looks for Edwin van der Sar's long-term replacement and he could make a major splash when the transfer window opens.

Lyon are wealthy and hard to deal with - as United have found in the past when they courted Karim Benzema - but Ferguson hopes their indifferent season may tempt the star keeper to leave.

Ferguson would ideally like a new keeper next month, but is also willing to wait until the summer to land his man. However van der Sar's personal problems - with his wife gravely ill - have added more urgency to the chase.