Mali man flattered by Old Trafford interest.

Join Bet365 and get upto £200 free plus money back on World Cup bets!

Join CaughtOffside’s World Cup 2010 Fantasy Football League and win £5k!

Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly considering a move for Real Madrid bit part player Mahamadou Diarra as he looks to strengthen his defensive midfield options. The Manchester United boss could well sign the Malian international and could probably do so without breaking the bank which could be crucial given the alarming level of debt the Premier League side finds itself in.

The 29 year old former Lyon man has struggled to secure a regular first team spot at the Bernabeu and has already apparently lined up talks with Jose Mourinho to see whether he is part of the new boss’s plans.

The Mali midfielder has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United and recently admitted he was flattered to be a reported target of the Premier League club. (Sky Sports)

Diarra’s extensive experience may well be what Ferguson is looking for as he looks to build up his squad. He may also see the tough battler as a potential back up for Owen Hargreaves who will hope to be part of Man United’s plans for next season. The likes of Darren Fletcher have done very well over the past 18 months but Sir Alex may well be looking for more one dimensional defensive midfielders to help strengthen the centre of his side.

The Real man could be snapped up for around £8m which is a fee the club should be able to afford even as they battle to