Manchester United are expected to push for Everton youngster Jack Rodwell over the next six months.

The Times says Rodwell is being lined up at United as a replacement for Nemanja Vidic, who is likely to move to Spain at the end of the season.

Rodwell, the Everton utility player, has been identified by United as a star of the future. Rodwell, 18, is being used primarily as a holding midfield player, but some view him as a central defender in the longer term.

Everton, though, will fight tooth and nail to keep the player, who signed a new five-year contract only in February and is not thought to be in any rush to leave Goodison Park.