Manchester United Transfer News: United Reportedly Offer £20M for Joao Moutinho

Manchester United have reportedly tabled an offer for Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho believed to be worth around £20-25 million.

The Porto playmaker is considered one of the brightest prospects in world football and has been strongly linked to the Red Devils throughout the summer transfer window.

The Times (subscription required) reports that Sir Alex Ferguson has put through an offer of £20 million for Moutinho, stating that:

United contacted Porto, the 25-year-old's present club, this week to establish their valuation of the playmaker and they returned with an opening offer yesterday.

It is thought that Porto are prepared to sell Moutinho, an £8.5million signing from Sporting Lisbon two years ago, but want as much as £26million.

United are likely to face intense competition from Tottenham for the player, who worked with Andre Villas-Boas, Spurs' newly appointed manager, at Porto in 2010.

Moutinho has been linked with a move to the English Premier League for some time now and emerged as one of the Red Devils' key transfer targets once the transfer window opened.

The news regarding a possible move comes at the same time that Tottenham star Luka Modric has reportedly agreed to terms with Spanish giants Real Madrid, according to Mirror Football.

Modric was considered one of United's main targets over the summer, but with Spurs asking price around £40 million for the Croatian star, a move to Old Trafford became an increasingly unlikely outcome.

Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate to give the Manchester United midfield some needed assistance next season—particularly in attack—and has already signaled his intent by bringing in Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund.

Moutinho would be the Red Devils' second big signing of the summer and would no doubt be an excellent addition to the United squad. Bleacher Report's Simon Edwards highlights why the midfielder is worth the money, and worth United going all-in for.

With Chelsea chasing the midfielder's teammate at Porto in Hulk, United must act fast to secure Moutinho with the club unlikely to sell both stars in the same transfer window.

No official word has been released by either club on the reported bid.

Will Manchester United end up signing Joao Moutinho?

Comment below or hit me up on Twitter:  Follow @dantalintyre