United will battle it out with Chelsea for in demand Marseille midfielder.
Manchester United and Chelsea will go head to head in January to try and secure the £25m signature of Marseille midfielder Giannelli Imbula, according to the Daily Express.
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Chelsea have been linked with the hotly tipped star since the summer, and ramped up their interest last week when news that Paul Pogba signing a new contract with Juventus effectively put an end to their pursuit of the France international.
The Blues retain hope that they can beat Arsenal to Sami Khedira by offering the Real Madrid outcast a pre-contract agreement in January, but Imbula is viewed as a long-term solution in the middle of the park.
The 22-year-old first made a name for himself with Guingamp, before making the £6m move to the riviera in 2013.
Reports in France suggested that United sent scouts to watch him in action for Marseille’s Coup de la Ligue game against Rennes on Wednesday night, and though centre-back Nicolas N’Koulou is also believed to be on United’s radar, it is Imbula that the Red Devils are thought to be most interested in.
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