Manchester United Make £20m bid for Juventus Midfielder Claudio Marchisio - Report

Manchester United have made a £20m bid for Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, according to the Daily Express.

David Moyes is desperately in the look out for a midfielder this January and with Juventus knocked out of the Champions League, the former Everton manager has earmarked the 27-year-old as the best possible option for a move this month.

The midfielder has made 10 starts this season for the Serie A leaders and is currently third in line behind Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba for a place in the first team.

The player may be forced to make a move to Old Trafford, failing which may dent his World Cup dreams. The lack of game time at Juventus may change his mind, having previously stressed his desire to stay In Turin.

However, having failed to qualify for the group stages, Juventus may look to cut the losses by allowing Marchisio to leave should United come up with an improved offer. In an interview last month, the Italian midfielder claimed that he wanted a new contract in Turin and had no plans to leave the club in the near future.

"We are winning so much so it is normal to want to stay. I hope to extend these [remaining] two years of the contract, because I want to wear this shirt as much as possible," Marchisio said.

His arrival will be a major boost for David Moyes, whose team are struggling i all competitions. The Red Devils are currently seventh in the league, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal and have been knocked out of the third round of the FA Cup by Swansea and followed that up with a loss against Sunderland in the first leg of the semi-final in the Capital one Cup.

The Scotsman needs major signings to rejuvinate his squad, with the likes of Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and others failing to live up to expectations in midfield. Their front two of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney have been struggling with injuries, which has led to further problems for the former Everton man.