Manchester United linked with Wigan's Valencia

(GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United are interested in bringing Wigan's Antonio Valencia to Old Trafford according to reports.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been monitoring the Ecuador international for sometime, but his impressive performance when Wigan visited Old Trafford last week has increased United's interest.

Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for Valencia, with reports claiming they could make a £15m bid for the player.

Valencia would be seen as the ideal cover for Cristiano Ronaldo, especially with the disappointing performances of Nani since his arrival at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Manchester United assistant boss Mike Phelan is confident Zoran Tosic is ready for his Red Devils bow.

Tosic has not played a competitive game since the beginning of December, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed it would be the end of February before the 21-year-old was in the right condition to make his senior debut.

But the former Partizan Belgrade winger has been so impressive in training that Ferguson has had a change of heart and now intends to name Tosic in his squad for tonight's Carling Cup semi-final with Derby.

United have a single-goal deficit to make up on the Rams from the first leg at Pride Park a fortnight ago, so Ferguson needs to get the decision right. However, Phelan has no doubt Tosic is up to the task.

"Whether it is as a starter or coming on as a substitute against Derby we have not decided yet," Phelan told the Manchester Evening News.

"But Zoran has shown he is capable of blending in. He has done it nice and quietly. Now it is a case of giving him a chance for everyone else to see what we have seen.

"He has really impressed us."