Sir Alex Ferguson knows that his tenure with Manchester United may be coming to an end and thus the manager might be looking to bolster his squad to make one final deep run in the Champions League.
Defense has been a major concern for Manchester United as they have given up 28 goals in 20 Premier League matches. The team has made up for it with a dynamic offense, but Ferguson's goal is not simply to win a Premier League title; he must win the Champions League.
With Manchester United set to face off with an equally dynamic offense in Real Madrid, United must seek to bolster its backend. A number of reports early in December indicate that Ferguson sent his brother Martin to scout Atletico Bilbao's midfielder Oscar de Marcos.
Manchester had attempted to make a move for the 23-year old over the summer but Atletico's demands of 25 million pounds ended the negotiations. According to the Bleacher Report, Ferguson may be looking to grab De Marcos because he is having an off-season and his squad may be willing to lower the price tag on him. According to The Daily Mirror, he could be available for 20 million euros and could be a part of their champions league squad in February if the deal is done in January.
The addition of De Marcos provides a huge boost in United's midfield with such stars as Ryan Giggs (39) and Paul Scholes (38) looking their age on the pitch. The youngster can add in a few goals and assists, but his biggest asset is his tenacity on the defensive side of the ball; something United severely needs if they hope to shut down the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, and Karim Benzema.
Those who criticize the poor season he is having with Bilbao should note that the former Europa League finalists are having a disastrous season in the Spanish League, a fact that likely deflates De Marco's performance overall.