Sir Alex Ferguson wants to make Sao Paulo starlet Lucas Moura his first big summer signing at Old Trafford.

Having first missed out on Eden Hazard to Chelsea, it now looks as though Tottenham star Luka Modric may also slip through his net. The Manchester United chief is desperate to add to his threadbare team having endured a trophy-less season last time out, famously losing out to rivals Manchester City in the Barclay’s Premier League on the last day of the season.

It is understood that Fergie has sent a delegation headed by chief scout Jim Lawlor to Brazil to negotiate a deal for Sao Paulo’s talented 19 year old.

Moura plays as an attacking central midfielder and has already bagged 26 goals for Sao Paulo since making his debut as a sixteen year old. A frequent member of Brazil’s Under-20 international side, he scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 victory over Uruguay. He made his debut in the senior Brazil team against Scotland aged 18 in 2011, and scored his first International goal in a 1-0 victory against Argentina later that year.

The £35 million asking price has already scared off Chelsea, but having confirmed that shares in the club were floated on the New York stock Exchange recently, the Red Devils may well have more transfer money to spend.

Any offer for the teenager would come close to breaking the club’s record transfer fee, currently £30.75m being paid to Tottenham for Dimitar Berbatov. But with Ferguson adamant to build the club around youth rather than proven, but in his eyes, “overpriced” players, it appears he is zeroing in on his man.

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