Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson travelled to Rome today on a scouting mission to watch Lazio's international defender Alessandro Nesta, according to a report today.
Ferguson is ready to offer Nesta's financially-troubled Serie A employers Stg£30 million for the player, a world record for a defender, the Sunday Timessaid.
Nesta, Lazio's captain and widely regarded as one of the finest defenders in world football, has already been linked with Real Madrid and Juventus.
However The Sunday Timessaid United and Lazio have forged close links since the transfers of Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron and Jaap Stam last season.
The paper reported that Lazio still owe United a substantial chunk of the Stam transfer fee, which could be written off in any new deal.
If Ferguson is impressed by Nesta's showing in Sunday's city derby with AS Roma, negotiations between Lazio and United are expected to start shortly, the paper added.
AFP
