Manchester United are ready to make a move for Portugal international Joao Moutinho, according to The Sun.

The Red Devils are eager to sign a new creative midfielder as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes, and have been linked with moves for Wesley Sneijder and Luka Modric.

Sir Alex Ferguson is said to have cooled his interest in Sneijder after trying to sign him last summer, whilst Tottenham will not accept less than £40 million for their Croatian star.

With Real Madrid the frontrunners to sign Modric and Spurs eager to avoid selling him to a Premier League rival, United will turn their attention to Moutinho.

The box-to-box midfielder impressed for Portugal during Euro 2012 and was a key reason for the side making the competition semi-finals.

Tottenham are thought to want Moutinho as a potential replacement for Modric, and possible new Spurs manager Andre Villas Boas worked with the player at Porto.

Despite this, Ferguson is said to have made Moutinho is number one target this summer, and will make enquiries this week to get a potential deal in motion.

By Gareth McKnight

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