Manchester United are lining up a late bid for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Kevin Strootman, if a move for Victor Wanyama fails, while Russian Pavel Mamayev revealed how he lost out on a chance of a dream move to Old Trafford at the beginning of the season.
United have been linked with a defensive midfielder for quite a while now, and it was understood the Red Devils were close to agreeing a deal with Celtic for Wanyama.
However, Celtic are not ready to lose their influential midfielder in the January transfer window, as they look to claim the Scottish Premier League title and progress in the Champions League.
Sir Alex Ferguson has prioritized a defensive midfield signing, ideally, before the winter window closes Thursday, and is ready to make a late move for Strootman, if a bid for Wanyama is shot down, according to reports in the Dutch press.
Strootman is arguably the more talented player, although Wanyama does present more of a physical presence in midfield.
The Dutch international has previously stated he would be only open to a move in the summer at the end of the season, as he looks to guide PSV to the Dutch Eredivisie title.
However, when a club like United comes calling, it is awfully difficult for a player to say no, and Ferguson will be banking on that aspect as he ponders a bid.
Strootman will not come cheap, though, with the 22-year-old costing somewhere between £15-20 million ($24-32 million), while Wanyama is rated at £10-15 million ($16-24 million).
Meanwhile, if the words of CSKA Moscow's Mamayev are to be believed, United might not have even been in this position, looking for a screening midfielder, if a deal for the 24-year-old had been completed in the summer, before it broke down due to work permit issues.
"I was in shock, it was such a dream transfer," Mamayev told reporters.
"The deal was around 80 percent complete but with my limited number of caps for Russia, I couldn't get a work permit.
"Sir Alex Ferguson said he would try to solve it but the contact never came again."
The defensive midfielder would have cost United a fraction of the sum quoted for the likes of Wanyama and Strootman, with the fee agreed between the two clubs believed to have been around £4 million ($6.5 million).
