Red Devils are still not convinced they will be able to land their No 1 target.
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Premier League champions Manchester United are understood to be pondering a move for in-demand St Etienne defender Faouzi Ghoulam as a potential replacement for departing Frenchman Patrice Evra when the winter transfer window does open again for business in the new year, according to reports in the Daily Express.
United skipper Evra recently made it be known that he would be quitting Old Trafford come the end of this current season to return home, with the Red Devils having been expected to then make another move for coveted Everton left-back Leighton Baines at the turn of the year to take over from the France international.
However, with the Merseyside giants having so far proved resistant to all of United’s previous attempts to lure Baines to the Theatre of Dreams, new United head coach David Moyes is understood to already be drawing up a list of alternative targets should they fail to land the England international in January.
And top of the Scot’s wish list is believed to be the les Verts’ Algeria international, a full back who has also been attracting the attentions of AC Milan, Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers, while the 22-year-old very nearly moved to Torino during the summer too.
“I would love to finish the season here now, it has been a very difficult time for me in the summer with the Torino affair,” Ghoulam told Sky Sports.
“However, things go quickly in football so we never know what is next.
“Manchester United? You are always flattered when such a big club is linked with you but I do not want to dream, the reality is to give 100 per cent for St Etienne and see what will happen next.”