Midfield crisis forces Man Utd to push for Makelele

Manchester United are closing in on Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele.

United's midfield crisis and lack of steel has convinced boss Sir Alex Ferguson to move for the French international, who recently saw talks over an extension to his Real contract collapse.

Makelele's contract runs to 2005, but it's understood Real are prepared to sell the midfielder in January for around £7 million.

Spanish press reports stated last week that United and Real had opened talks about a New Year's deal and negotiations were already at an advanced stage.