Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly made Everton right-back Seamus Coleman his top January transfer target.
The Republic of Ireland international is valued at around £16m by the Toffees, who would be reluctant to sell one of their star players to a Premier League rival.
With Matteo Darmian expected to depart for Inter Milan in the New Year, Mourinho is said to have targeted Coleman as a direct replacement to rival Antonio Valencia for a starting spot at Old Trafford.
According to The Mirror, Mourinho has tasked chief executive Ed Woodward with signing the defender to bolster the Red Devils' defensive options.
Coleman was previously linked with a switch to United when his former manager David Moyes took charge in 2014, but no move went through and the Irishman has since continued to thrive on Merseyside.
A £60,000 signing from Sligo Rovers in 2009, the soon-to-be 28-year-old has close to 200 Premier League appearances to his name and has also found the net 15 times.
Daniel Lewis
