United Plot Player-Plus-Cash Move for Everton Ace - Report

Manchester United are reportedly preparing a cut-price move for long-time target Leighton Baines in January. The Red Devils will offer Patrice Evra as part of the deal.

The Everton wing back has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent seasons, although the club has yet to make a formal offer. The 27-year-old is seen as an ideal replacement for French international Evra, whose performances have been less than impressive this season.

The Sunday Express believes Ferguson is now ready to move for Baines and a fee in the region of £8m (with Evra as well) has been suggested. The fee is likely to rise to £11m if Evra is not part of the deal.

However, Baines's contract with Everton runs till 2015, so the Merseyside club could hold out for a bigger fee, should they decide to cash in on the England international. The defender joined Goodison Park from Wigan in 2007, for £6m.

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Evra's deal with United runs till 2014 and there are doubts over David Moyes's side being able to match his present wages. The veteran left back is unlikely to consider a wage-cut and therefore a move abroad is more than probable for the Paris St Germain (PSG) academy product, should Baines's transfer go ahead.

United have already signed one young left back, a back-up and a long-term prospect, in 23-year-old Dutchman Alexander Buttner, who signed from Eredivise club Vitesse Arnhem.

Ferguson Hails Anderson and Evans

Meanwhile, Ferguson has showered praise on United duo Jonny Evans and Anderson, after the club's 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers. Goals from Evans, Darren Fletcher and Chicharito helped the Red Devils break a two-game losing run, after Jamie Mackie gave the visitors the lead soon after the break.

"I thought Anderson changed the game. We've got a great squad of players. Anderson played his part. He didn't let us down, he was terrific. Jonny Evans is capable of doing that (scoring) but it's only this season that he's emerged as a goal scoring centre-back. We've had a few in the past - Vida (Nemanja Vidic) and Steve Bruce way back. It's nice to get a defender who can weigh in with a few goals," the club website quoted the Scot as saying.