Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is planning a late market raid for Leicester City defender Liam Moore.

The Daily Mirror says Ferguson sent his chief scout Jim Lawlor to watch the centre-back play in the Foxes' 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park on Saturday - and he was impressed.

The England youth international has also been watched by Tottenham, Everton and Sunderland scouts, but Fergie is ready to beat off competition with a bid this week.

With the injury-prone Rio Ferdinand nearing the end of his career, Ferguson has been eyeing long-term defensive reinforcements for a while, but he has decided to act now with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling also out injured.