Manchester United are set to spend £12 million on Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour in January, according to TalkSport.

The 22-year-old is wanted by Sir Alex Ferguson as Owen Hargreaves continues to struggle in his battle with chronic knee injuries.

Hargreaves  hasn’t started a game for two years and Defour is seen as a natural replacement for the England international.

Goal.com UK exclusively revealed on Saturday that Ferguson has been assured of a £50 million transfer kitty by the Glazer family, and Defour is reportedly his first target.

Defour has been linked with several top European clubs for some time, but it appears Ferguson is ready to take the plunge in January, with Standard apparently open to offers.

Defour, who has already played 24 times for his country, would be expected to jump at the chance of a move to Old Trafford.