Real Madrid ready to bid £20m for defender Vidic

London: Real Madrid are preparing a £20 million (Dh116 million) summer bid for Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic.

Real have identified the Serbia international as their top defensive target and sporting director Jorge Valdano believes the club can take advantage of Vidic's wish to play in southern Europe.

Although Vidic is contracted to United until 2012, the failure of his wife, Ana, to settle in the North West has left the 28 year-old open to the prospect of a move away from Old Trafford next summer.

United have no immediate plans to negotiate a new contract with Vidic and it is understood that the club could be prepared to do business with Real, who prised Cristiano Ronaldo from Old Trafford in a world-record £80 million deal last summer, if they receive an offer closer to their £30 million valuation.

A player exchange involving the France forward Karim Benzema, who chose Real ahead of United last summer, could also prompt a deal.

Injury crisis

United's recent defensive injury crisis, which left them without eight first-team defenders earlier this month, is easing with Vidic, Wes Brown and Gary Neville fit to face Wigan at Old Trafford last night. Continuing concerns over Rio Ferdinand's ability to beat a back injury have been allayed with Ferguson insisting on Tuesday that the England defender would be "back soon".

Vidic's future has been the subject of speculation since the end of last season, however, United have been actively scouring the market for defensive reinforcements.

Palermo Danish defender Simon Kjaer has impressed Ferguson's scouts, but United are also monitoring Bolton's Gary Cahill, Porto defender Bruno Alves, the Juventus centre-half Giorgio Chiellini and CSKA Moscow teenager Uros Cosic.

Despite the protracted war of words between Ferguson and former Real president, Ramon Calderon, during the year-long Ronaldo transfer saga, United have done regular business with Real in recent seasons, with David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gabriel Heinze and Ronaldo all leaving for the Bernabeu. Ferguson insisted that United have proved there is life after Ronaldo this season. The manager claims his team are as strong as ever.

"We've scored more goals than we did last season at this time."