Manchester United and Tottenham are monitoring Lassana Diarra's situation at Real Madrid.
Sport says Diarra is on the outer at Real and will be sold in January.
Hercules president Enrique Ortiz recently expressed interested in Diarra, but Madrid replied that their first option is to transfer him to England.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a firm admirer of Diarra and has hinted he may not be able to count on Owen Hargreaves this season.
Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, had Diarra at Portsmouth and admits his midfield lacks the steel the Frenchman can offer.
