Manchester United bid £26m for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas

Press Association Sport understands the bid was submitted this evening Sydney time and thus far there has been no response.

If the deal did go through it would represent David Moyes' first significant signing as United manager.

United were heavily linked with the former Arsenal skipper earlier in the summer, although at the time Fabregas claimed his intention was to remain with Barcelona.

Moyes then turned his attentions to Fabregas' Barca team-mate Thiago Alcantara.

At one point it seemed as though a deal for the Spain Under-21 star was nearing completion.

However, at the 11th hour Pep Guardiola stepped in and Thiago has now agreed to join Bayern Munich.

Fabregas does appear to be in a similar position to Thiago in that his World Cup place could come under threat if he does not play regularly for Barcelona following their £50million acquisition of Brazilian superstar Neymar.

Barca are unlikely to let Fabregas go willingly, having nurtured the player through his formative years, only for Arsenal to sign him as a 16-year-old in 2003.

Fabregas spent eight years with the Gunners, making 303 appearances and ending up as club captain, before returning to the Nou Camp in 2011.

Though he has played 96 times in two seasons, including 60 league games, he has rarely featured in his preferred midfield role due to the performances of brilliant duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

His forceful approach in central midfield is just what United are looking for following the retirement of Paul Scholes, continuing doubt over the career of Darren Fletcher and a belief amongst fans Brazilian Anderson will never fulfil the promise that earned him a big money move from FC Porto in 2007.