Manchester United are launching a £10 million bid for Fulham attacker Mousa Dembele. The Mail on Sunday says United are expected to start rebuilding in the likely event of losing their Premier League title to Manchester City and Dembele is in line to be the first of a number of signings.

The 24-year-old Belgium midfielder has made a huge impression since his £5m move from AZ Alkmaar in 2010 and he has been a revelation following Fulham manager Martin Jol's decision to drop him back into a deeper central-midfield role in the 2-1 win over Stoke in February.

He has only scored twice this season but has been instrumental in Fulham's rise to ninth and is seen as a ready-made replacement for Scholes, 37.