Manchester United are interested in unsettled Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

Don Balon says United are readying a £27 million approach for Kovacic.

And United boss Jose Mourinho is optimistic a deal can be struck to take the 23-year-old to Old Trafford.

Mourinho refused to rule out January additions prior to United's trip to West Brom on Sunday, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is being strongly linked with the Old Trafford exit.

Croatian Kovacic has struggled to hold down a regular first-team spot at the Bernabeu this season.