Real Madrid are preparing a £20 million bid for Manchester United fullback Patrice Evra. The Daily Mail says the Spanish giants are determined to land a left back this summer after identifying former Liverpool player Alvaro Arbeloa as the weak link in a defence that has conceded 50 per cent more goals than Barcelona in 34 La Liga games this season.

Bernabeu director general Jorge Valdano has identified a number of candidates - including Arsenal's Gael Clichy, Chelsea's Ashley Cole and Fiorentina's Juan Manuel Vargas - but Evra is said to have jumped to the top of the list on the recommendation of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson reluctantly allowed Ronaldo to leave United for Madrid in a world record £80m deal last summer, but he will not want to lose another of his star players.

However, sources in France claim that Evra could be tempted by a new challenge after winning about as much as he could have dreamed of since leaving Monaco four-and-a-half years ago.