Manchester United's pursuit of Lassana Diarra is to resume in January according to reports that emerged in England over the weekend.
Sunday tabloid The People has claimed that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, a known admirer of Diarra, will launch a substantial bid for the Real Madrid midfielder when the next transfer window opens in January.
The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth star looks set to cost the Red Devils, who asked about the 25-year-old's availability this summer, something in the region of €20 million as Real look to recoup the cash they paid for the midfielder at the tail end of 2008.
The Frenchman has, however, subsequently failed to bag a regular starting place at Real, and with a host of Bernabeu summer arrivals now ahead of him in the pecking order, coach Jose Mourinho has made it clear that Diarra is not part of his plans.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been also linked with a move for Diarra.