Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Lucas Tousart, Ben Brereton

Manchester United will reportedly launch a summer bid to sign Lyon midfielder Lucas Tousart following the youngster's breakthrough campaign in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest striker Ben Brereton is said to be drawing the Red Devils' gaze.

The Mirror reported Tousart is a target for United, who may look to reinforce their midfield this summer if Michael Carrick—whose contract expires in June—ends his stay with the Red Devils.

Lyon purchased Tousart from Valenciennes for a fee of £2.25 million in the summer of 2015, and the French club is understood to have already rejected an offer for the player from Palermo worth twice that amount.

French Football Weekly writer Rich Allen has spoken of the teenager as a player beyond his years, an indication of how quickly Tousart has settled in his first season as a Ligue 1 starter:

Tousart was a part of the France under-19 team that travelled to the European Championships in Germany last year, when he captained the side that lost 2-1 to England in the group stage.

The defensive midfielder has also spoken about deliberating over his future at Lyon after making just a single Ligue 1 appearance in the 2015-16 campaign, per the league's official website:

"

Of course I was asking myself questions. I knew I couldn't stay for another season and not play or just playing for the reserves. I was worried I'd regress and it wouldn't be good for me or for the club.

So it took me a year to find my mark, and now everything's going well for me, I'm working hard every day in training to try to improve more and more.

"

After last year's purchase of Paul Pogba, the club has paired the Frenchman alongside Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata and the occasional Marouane Fellaini, begging the question as to what opportunities Toulart would find at Old Trafford.

That being said, football writer Liam Canning has spoken of United's need to bridge the gap between United's defence and midfield, an area into which Toulart could probably fit:

Carrick's future at the club could be seen as the key in whether manager Jose Mourinho even sees the need to invest strongly in midfield, but with the Englishman turning 36 in July, questions may be asked as to whether he'll extend his stay.

Toulart may therefore find his hopes for first-team chances are better served in his native France for now, developing along his current trajectory rather than risk throwing it off balance with a move abroad.

Elsewhere, United are said to be examining the possibility of sealing a £10 million deal to sign Nottingham Forest striker Brereton, per The Sun (h/t Dan Gibbs of the Daily Express).

Brereton has scored three goals in eight Championship appearances for Forest since graduating from the club's academy this winter after having joined the club after developing at Manchester United and Stoke City.