The agent of French international midfielder Rio Antonio Mavuba claims United have expressed an interest in his client.

With Owen Hargreaves looking increasingly unlikely to leave Bayern Munich this January, United are being linked with a string of alternative targets, including 21-year-old Bordeaux star Mavuba.

Vincenzo Morabito told Sky Sports: "It is true that the player is followed very closely by clubs in England, but also in Italy.

"Manchester United and Juventus have asked for him. That is normal. Rio is a future top-class player and his future lies with a very ambitious European club."

Morabito conceded, however, that his client was more likely to be available for transfer at the end of the current campaign rather than immediately.

"The situation will depend on a lot of details," he said. "Bordeaux are an ambitious club that are attempting to qualify for a second consecutive UEFA Champions League, so it may be easier for Rio to leave in the summer.

"But if a club offer a big sum of money during the January transfer window, we will see if Bordeaux are interested in transferring him.

"I sincerely think that the summer transfer window will be more interesting for him."