Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will swoop for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric in the summer, as he looks for a long term replacement for Paul Scholes.

Chelsea and Manchester City are also interested in the Croatian, but the Daily Star understands United are favourites to land the �40m rated playmaker.

Scholes came out of retirement this season but, at 37 years of age, the United boss will be aiming for someone to fill the former England international’s boots.

Ferguson is also interested in Athletic Bilbao’s Oscar de Marcos, the Daily Mirror reports.

De Marcos was part of the Bilbao side that dumped the Red Devils out of the Europa League, and the Manchester club are to send scouts to his next game- a Europa League semi-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon this evening.

The 22-year-old, who is valued by the Spanish club at �26m, has made 35 starts this season, scoring four goals.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are set to battle over the signature of Manchester City’s wantaway striker Edin Dzeko, according to the Daily Mail.

Dzeko, 26, is unhappy at being part of such a large squad and wants to return to Germany in the summer.

City boss Mancini does not want to lose the Serbian- but will want no less than �20m if he is to sell the forward.

The frontman played for Wolfsburg between July 2007 and January 2011 , scoring 17 goals in 24 games before his �27m move to City.

Chelsea forward Saloman Kalou has been targeted by Tottenham, who want to sign the Ivory Coast international on a free transfer when his contact expires in the summer.

Kalou, who helped his current club beat Spurs 5-1 in a FA Cup semi-final last weekend, is yet to agree new terms at Stamford Bridge, and could make the short move from west to north London on a Bosman free.

Harry Redknapp, however, could face competition from Italian giants AC Milan.

Fulham star Clint Dempsey is to be the subject of a �7m bid from Italian club Roma.

The Sun writes the USA star, who is out of contract at Craven Cottage in the summer of 2013, has also been watched by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who may also enquire about the Texan in the summer.

Dempsey, who was Fulham’s top scorer last season with 13 goals, has been in great form again this season, currently standing on 16 goals.

Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala are hoping to pip Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign Blackburn’s highly rated midfielder Steven N’Zonzi.

The Russian side are planning a �300m spending spree this summer and will pay �8m to secure the holding midfielder’s services.

If N’Zonzi does leave Blackburn, it could spark a mass exodus, according to reports in the Metro.

Even if Rovers manage to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season, the likes of Junior Hoilett, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Mauro Formica, Ruben Rochina and Yakubu could all consider their futures.