United make Modric No.1 target

Manchester United have set their transfer sights on Luka Modric this month, according to reports.

The Croatian international midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer, with Harry Redknapp managing to keep hold of the 26-year-old despite an official transfer request and big-money bid from Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas.

However, the Tottenham Hotspur chief could again have a fight on his hands for the coveted former Dinamo Zagreb starlet, with The Daily Mail reporting that Sir Alex Ferguson is considering a £50 million bid to lure the player away from White Hart Lane.

The report goes on to claim that the Red Devils see Modric as the perfect replacement for Paul Scholes, who returned from retirement for his club at the start of the month to help ease the burden of a midfield injury crisis at Old Trafford.

Tom Cleverley was initially seen as the successor to the Manchester United legend, with the academy graduate taking the reigns at the start of the season and impressing before injury forced the England international onto the sidelines.

Wesley Sneijder was also tipped to be the top transfer option for Ferguson in the summer, but after the Dutchman said he was '90% certain' to stay with Inter Milan, it appears United's sights have now switched to Modric.