Manchester United are set to start their summer spending spree with Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, according to the Metro.
Sir Alex has been promised bonus funds after the Red Devils romped to Premier League glory this season and the wily old gaffer has seen enough in Marchisio to persuade him to use a £20m chunk of that on him.
With Paul Scholes retiring, Darren Fletcher carrying long-term bowel problems and Anderson about as useful as a wet sock in the middle of the field, the United chiefs are desperate to bulk up the middle of their team this summer in order to retain the trophy.
The Italy international has scored six goals and created 33 chances in his 27 games this term and has a pass accuracy of 84%. If the move were to transpire then he would be expected to slot in beside Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley to solidify the spine of the team.
Marchisio is contracted to the Turin side until 2016 and Juve are expected to stand firm over the midfielders future, but with £120,000-a-week on a five-year deal it is unlikely that Marchisio will tell the Mancs to leave him alone.
The Italian would add a calm, experienced head into the United side which might be the difference between United squandering the title back to Manchester City or Chelsea, both of whom are expected to invest heavily in the coming months.