Manchester United are closing in on Porto midfielder Raul Meireles. A Bola says the prospect of Meireles moving to United is gathering pace after he was left out - again - from Porto's squad for their clash with RacingGenk so not to Cup tie him from European football.

With Mesut Ozil now a Real Madrid player, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to move for Meireles, who he sees as ideal cover for Paul Scholes in midfield.

Porto are now preparing to sell the midfielder in the coming weeks.