Sporting Lisbon know Ricky van Wolfswinkel is being scouted by Manchester United. A Bola says some Sporting officials are already resigned to losing the young Dutchman after just one season.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is having the 22 year-old watched as he prepares for Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen to both come off contract in June. There are also question marks over the long-term futures of Mame Biram Diouf and Kiko Macheda at Old Trafford.

Van Wolfswinkel has been sensational for Sporting since joining in the summer from FC Utrecht and is firming as a top striker target for Ferguson.