Victor Wanyama
Victor Wanyama scored in Celtic's win over Barcelona. Reuters

Sir Alex Ferguson got an up close look at reported transfer target Victor Wanyama on Tuesday night as he watched the midfielder in action for Celtic.

Ferguson’s presence at the Scottish champions’ 4-0 victory over Dundee United has been widely reported, with the Daily Mirror, among others, claiming that Wanyama was the main target of the Manchester United manager’s attention.

Wanyama, 21, has been linked to United for some time on the back of consistently impressive performances for Celtic. The Kenyan’s reputation, and valuation, has soared after his outings in the Champions League this season, notably in his goal-scoring display in victory over Barcelona.

The Independent reported this week that Arsenal are also interested in the player who arrived from Belgian side Beerschot for just £900,000 in the summer of 2011. Wanyama could well be targeted to provide a dynamism that has long been missing from Manchester United’s midfield options.

Darren Fletcher, who once provided energy in the midfield, has been ruled out until the end of the season, with Ferguson admitting that the Scotland international will be forced to adapt his game because of the bowel disease that has affected him for more than a year.

There have also been further reports about Manchester United’s goalkeeping situation. The Daily Telegraph claimed earlier this week that Ferguson was beginning to lose faith in David de Gea, after the Spaniard was again criticized for his physicality in the box as Tottenham scored an injury-time equalizer on Sunday.

There has again been speculation, in the Daily Mirror, that United are interested in Stoke’s Asmir Begovic as a potential replacement. According to the report, both United and rivals Manchester City are interested in the 25-year-old Bosnian.

Begovic has been in fine form for Stoke this season and would have the added appeal to United of being eligible for the Champions League.

The same is also true of another goalkeeper linked to United on Tuesday—Queens Park Rangers’ Julio Cesar. The Sun reports their understanding that both United and Arsenal are considering an approach for the 33-year-old.

Cesar only arrived at QPR in a surprise move from Internazionale in the summer. Once considered one of the world’s leading goalkeepers, Cesar endured a disappointing end to his time at Inter but his form at QPR saw him earn a recall to the Brazil squad this week.

QPR have both Cesar and Robert Green on high wages and may well be looking to dispense with one, although manager Harry Redknapp would surely prefer to see Green move on.

If United were to move for Cesar, it would bare plenty of similarities to the signing of Edwin van der Sar back in 2005. The Dutchman was signed by United when he was 35 and after he had also seen his career take a downturn with, in his case, a move from Juventus to Fulham.

There has yet to be any confirmation about Manchester United signing Wilfried Zaha. The Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Ferguson expects to have a deal done by the end of the week. The Daily Mail, however, reports that the winger will be officially a United player on Wednesday.

There may not be an official announcement, according to their report, with Zaha potentially not even undergoing a medical until the summer after spending the rest of the season back on loan at Crystal Palace.

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