Manchester United are considering making a £14m offer for the Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.
The Spanish club's manager, José Mourinho, has claimed he wants to retain the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth player but Diarra is believed to be keen on a move to Old Trafford.
Reports in Spain have said Diarra has asked for a new contract despite playing only a bit-part first-team role. The 25-year-old could then use the lack of a new deal from Madrid to seek a return to England.
Madrid have publicly stated there will be no transfer activity at the Bernabéu this month. However, they would almost certainly accept £14m, which is £3m more than was originally reported as United's valuation of the France international.
Diarra's playing time at Madrid has been severely restricted by the arrival of Sami Khedira from Stuttgart last summer.