Manchester United Target £16m January Move for Former Arsenal Midfielder - Report

Manchester United are considering a £16m approach for Barcelona midfielder Alex Song during the January transfer window, according to the Express.

The 26-year-old joined the Spanish champions from Arsenal in the summer of 2012 for a transfer fee of £16m. Since his arrival in Spain, the midfielder has failed to feature regularly for the Catalan club. Song made 17 starts in the league, taking his overall tally to 25 in all competitions last season.

The report claims the Cameroon international is unhappy with his lack of playtime and is considering his future at Camp Nou. However, Song is still looking to fight for a place under Barcelona's new manager Gerardo Martino and is hopeful of making his way into the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are unwilling to allow Song return to the Premier League in January. However, the La Liga winners are believed to be interested in allowing the midfielder leave the club in the next summer transfer window.

United made multiple bids in signing Song's club teammate Cesc Fabregas as they were keen on bringing the former Arsenal captain to Old Trafford. The Premier League champions' approach was rejected by both the club and the player.

David Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford after the end of last season. United have failed to bring in new faces to the club in the summer transfer window, leaving the former Everton manager short of options in midfield.

Meanwhile, United are likely to face competition in landing Song. The same report also claims Italian outfit AC Milan are also believed to be interested in the midfielder's signature.

United have already lost two out of their first five games, which includes a 1-0 loss to Liverpool and a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Moyes has stressed on the importance of bringing reinforcements in January as the former Everton manager is looking to bring in players to go right into the team.

"Maybe where we've got work to do is to bring in players not for the squad but one or two to go right into the team. But that will happen. There will be days like we had on Sunday and there might be more of them because we are in a period where there will be transition," Moyes explained.