Patrice Evra
Sir Alex Ferguson could lose Patrice Evra in January, particularly if he signs Everton left back Leighton Baines Reuters

Manchester United left back Patrice Evra could be a £5m January transfer target for French club Paris St Germain (PSG), according to the Independent. The 31 year old French international has not lived up to his usual high standards and given his age, Sir Alex Ferguson could be open to allowing him to move on... providing the Premier League leaders have a suitable replacement.

Evra is believed to be a strong admirer of PSG and even spent the 1997/98 season at the club's youth academy. That strong emotional connection, the French capital club, hope, will encourage the defender to move across the Channel. It would also help that PSG are able and willing to increase his present salary of £90,000 per week.

However, Ferguson will need to find an alternative, a viable one, before allowing Evra to leave. The club did sign Dutch youngster Alexander Buttner in the summer, for £4m. But the 23 year old Vitesse Arnhem full back has been singularly unimpressive so far and is unlikely to be anything more than a squad or fringe player. The club does also have Fabio da Silva, right back Rafael da Silva's brother, who is on loan with QPR. However, the 22 year old has been as unimpressive at Loftus Road as Buttner has at Old Trafford.

This means Ferguson will need to buy an established left back and a number of rumours have linked him a move for Everton's Leighton Baines. The 27 year old English international is a long-time target for United but they face strong opposition from both the Toffees' manager David Moyes and the player himself.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail also links PSG to Chelsea left back Ashley Cole; another Mail report links the former Arsenal man with a surprise move to United. The England international is in the final season of his contract at Stamford Bridge and, with fellow veteran Frank Lampard, is believed to be leaving the club in the summer.