It does not appear Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho will
become the latest addition to Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United
squad.
With Luka Modric looking likely to complete a move from
Tottenham to Real Madrid, United have been heavily linked with
Moutinho, a central figure in Portugal's run to the Euro 2012
semi-finals.
It has even been said the Old Trafford outfit have offered
£20million for the 25-year-old.
However, despite claiming last week that he was still hopeful of
adding to his squad prior ahead of the new Premier League season,
it is understood Moutinho is not on Ferguson's wanted list.
The United boss has already signed one attacking midfielder this
summer in the form of Japan international Shinji Kagawa, with
another, Nick Powell, signed from Crewe with an eye to the
future.
Even the exit of Park Ji-sung to QPR is not viewed as making
space for Moutinho and, with doubts remaining over the career of
Darren Fletcher, it would appear a more defensive-type player is
required if Ferguson feels his midfield still requires
strengthening.
However, as Ferguson has also said in the past that any deals
that are not completed in the early weeks of the summer tend to
drag on until the latter stages, it could well be there are no
further additions when United head to South Africa on July 23 for
the first leg of their lengthy pre-season tour.
In addition to matches in Durban and Cape Town, United will also
visit China, before returning to Europe and matches in Norway,
Sweden and Germany before they open their quest to reclaim the
Premier League title from Manchester City with a visit to Everton
on August 20.