Manchester United Transfers: How Would Joao Moutinho Fit into United's Midfield?

With a move for Tottenham's Luka Modric seemingly dead in the water (via goal.com), reports suggest that Manchester United have turned their attention to another supremely gifted European playmaker, Portugal's Joao Moutinho (according to ESPNSoccernet).

The FC Porto midfielder has been a mainstay in his nation's midfield during their impressive run to the Euro semifinals, and now that the tournament has concluded, Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly sounded out the Portugese club over a potential transfer, believed to be somewhere in the £20-25 million bracket.

Like Cristiano Ronaldo, and United's own Nani, Moutinho is a graduate of Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon's famed youth academy. Like his peers, he is a naturally talented footballer, possessing an uncanny knack for reading the game in a manner not dissimilar to one Paul Scholes.

Indeed, with the Reds priced out of a move for Modric, pursuing Moutinho is the logical Plan B.

With the £17 million signing of Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa already completed, Sir Alex is continuing his summer rebuild of United's midfield.

Moutinho is a different sort of player than the more attacking Kagawa—the Portuguese midfielder being a player who tries more to control the midfield in a deeper lying role with his passing and movement, as opposed to playing in behind the striker, as Kagawa does.

United would face stiff competition for the playmaker's signature, though, with both Chelsea and Tottenham also reportedly interested (via the Daily Mail).

With a deal for Belgian wizard Eden Hazard having already fallen through, and having seen himself priced out of the Modric situation, it's time Sir Alex put on the gloves and fought to get his man.

Joao Moutinho is a player certainly worth fighting for.