Manchester United 'line-up' £30m Benzema

Benzema could have joined United of Barcelona (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United are ready to launch a £30m bid to lure Lyon striker Karim Benzema to Old Trafford, according to various reports today.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who is due to return from holiday this week, is set to lose Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo this summer and urgently needs to bolster his strike force.

Reports suggest Benzema has been placed at the top of Ferguson's wish-list while Lyon could already be preparing for the 21-year-old's exit.

Lyon have made a £10m bid for Paris Saint-Germain striker Guillaume Hoarau, a player who scored 17 goals last season and has received a call-up to the France squad.

Lyon sporting director Bernard Lacombe has said: "Nobody knows what is going to happen. What should we do if Manchester, who have a lot of cash to spend, want to sign Benzema?"