Manchester United are getting ready to launch a January bid for Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao.
The Portuguese international has fallen out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu and Reds’ boss Louis Van Gaal is keen to sign an experienced left-back, after being unconvinced by youngster Luke Shaw’s displays this season.
According to the Daily Express, Coentrao fits the bill despite sitting out the last two months in Spain through injury and before that playing second fiddle to Marcelo.
It is understood United had been monitoring Ashley Cole’s situation at Roma, the former Chelsea man having had a disastrous start to life in Serie A, but are now set to make Madrid a lucrative offer to bring 26-year-old Coentrao to Old Trafford.
Even so, the Premier League giants may not have it all their own way in attempting to secure Coentrao’s signature with a number of top European outfits, including Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, also showing interest.
But Van Gaal is hopeful the offer of a long-term contract and guaranteed first-team football will prove enough to lure him to England, while Real Madrid will reportedly step up their efforts to land a replacement in Bayern Munich’s David Alaba.
