Manchester United will reportedly launch a stunning bid to sign Paris Saint Germain forward Edinson Cavani in the summer after receiving encouragement that the Uruguayan would entertain the move.

According to L'Equipe, David Moyes is interested in the £50m-rated striker after Sir Alex Ferguson contacted PSG manager Laurent Blanc to sound out a transfer.

Blanc played under Ferguson at Old Trafford and is not completely against the notion of selling the 26-year-old despite him scoring thirteen goals in Ligue 1 this season.

The beleaguered United manager is reported to have watched Cavani during the Parisian club's 3-1 victory over Bordeaux last week but will have to wait until the summer to make his move.

With a £140m transfer budget - a figure suggested by the French paper - it is expected that Moyes will undergo a comprehensive overhaul of his under-performing side at the end of the year.

"The amount of big players wanting to join Manchester United is incredible," he said.

"Maybe players want to go to other clubs for the money but if you ask them where they really want to be, what club they really want to wear the badge of, they want to wear the badge of Manchester United.

"It’s because of the club and what it stands for in world terms."

The Red Devils are enduring a torrid patch of form - fourteen points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, out of the FA Cup and currently losing in their two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final against Sunderland - but remain confident of securing Champions League qualification.

The reigning champions are expected to make a bid for the out-of-favour Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata in the next two days, with Blues' boss Jose Mourinho having the ultimate say over whether the Spain international leaves or not.