Real Madrid are weighing up making a swap offer to Manchester United for defender Nemanja Vidic. The Mirror says Real Madrid may offer Karim Benzema as bait to tempt Manchester United into selling them Vidic.

Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign Benzema last summer, but refused to meet Lyon's £35million asking price and the striker joined Real.

The French international has failed to shine at the Bernabeu and Real are considering using him as a makeweight in a move for Vidic.

New Real boss Jose Mourinho is keen to bolster his defence with the Serbian international, who is unsettled at Old Trafford, and adding Benzema to the equation may be enough to persuade Fergie to do business.