Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic is being watched by Manchester United scouts.

Manchester United have sent scouts to check on Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic with a January move under consideration, according to reports.

Matic made the move to Benfica from Chelsea in 2011 after failing to break-through at Stamford Bridge and has since come into his own. The 25 year old helped the Portuguese side to a second place finish in the league last season and they are aiming to better that in the current campaign.

But A Bola are reporting that they might have to do it without Matic as United step up their interest in the star in the hopes of finally fixing the problems in their midfield.

After failing to land such targets as Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara in the summer, as well as Ander Herrera on deadline day, David Moyes had to settle with Marouane Fellaini as his own signficant signing.

Moyes continuously insists that he has complete faith in Fellaini to produce the same form as when the pair were at Everton together last season but in the big games particularly the Belgian seems to disappear and more work is clearly needed in the middle of the park if United hope to challenge for top spot at the end of the season.

Matic offers a good blend of experience and long-term potential and will certainly have a point to prove to Chelsea, who swapped the player for David Luiz in the January transfer window along with £21m.

His value is believed to have gone up to around £38m and while this would be a lot for United to pay, the Premier League champions will be hoping to make it clear that money is no object this winter after supporters were left disappointed by their activity in the summer.

And with Serbian teammate Nemanja Vidic currently captaining the club it would certainly make Matic settling in at Old Trafford an easier process.