David Moyes
Reuters

Manchester United are planning a bid for Dundee United midfielder Ryan Gauld, according to the Mirror.

Dubbed the 'Mini Messi', the 17-year-old is being heralded as one of the most promising talents in Europe and is being tracked by Real Madrid. David Moyes has reportedly sent scouts to watch the player make his debut for the Scotland U-21's against Georgia last week alongside scouts from Newcastle, Liverpool and Everton. The Scotsman will be looking to use his local connections to bring Gauld to Old Trafford, having seen the impact made by youngster Adnan Januzaj for the first team.

Dundee are willing to transfer the player for a fee in the range of £5m but no official bid has been received. Moyes is likely to be given a substantial bounty this January to spruce up his squad, having failed with multiple targets this summer. United are in the market for a left-back and are planning a move for Leighton Baines from Everton in January, according to the Mirror. They are also looking at other targets in midfield. Coach Phil Neville believes that United have to keep investing in the squad if they have to close the gap between themselves and the likes of Manchester City.

"We have a fantastic squad as it is. In the transfer window early on in the season we were looking for players, that was well documented. That search continues. We need to keep reinvesting in the squad because if you stand still in this league you get left behind, as Manchester City found out last season when they didn't strengthen as much and they ended up losing the league [title]," Neville said, before praising the contribution made so far this season by England striker Wayne Rooney.

"At the start of the season when we weren't in the best of form, he was a shining light. Now you are seeing everybody else to come into form, and with the partnership between him and Robin van Persie, if they continue at that rate in terms of goals, then we will be right up there. If you look at facts, when they play together, Manchester United win football games," he said.