*Galatasaray lead chase for Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic

*United have scouted Villarreal centre-back Mateo Musacchio

*Federico Macheda will be allowed to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer

*Arsenal would like Juventus attacker Sebastien Giovinco

*Loic Remy is also an option Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is considering

*Chelsea’s pursuit of Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic could move on

*Everton are monitoring Espanyol centre-back Hector Moreno

The pending departure of Nemanja Vidic is alerting several clubs around Europe.

Manchester United’s captain is looking to see out his final season at Old Trafford before a changing of the guard in the summer with Rio Ferdinand also contemplating retirement.

Galatasaray are among the suitors for 32-year-old Vidic and would even consider a deal to take him now. Selling the captain in the current climate is not in David Moyes’s thinking but it is accepted that Vidic will go in the summer and the Turkish side will press for a pre-contract agreement, although they are not alone.

Whether Roberto Mancini will still be the coach is another matter. There are rumblings that the Italian is not entirely happy with Galatasaray’s recruitment policy at the moment.

Moyes is battling on at Old Trafford as the snipers gather to take shots in and outside of the club.

He sees even in this difficult time a chance to assess the qualities of certain individuals at United; those who are prepared to help usher in a new era and those who want it handed to them.

Backroom staff Moyes inherited from Sir Alex Ferguson’s regime have an empathy with the new manager and believe many of the players need to take greater responsibility.

In many ways it will make changes easier but the slow recruitment process is again indicative of the quality Moyes is striving for.

Chief scout Robbie Cooke, fresh from watching Ander Herrera and Diego Costa last weekend, went to watch Rayo Vallecano against Villarreal on Monday night. The visitors’ centre-back Mateo Musacchio is a player many observers have been raving about this season.

The 23-year-old Argentine, seen by many as being in the mould of the great Argentina captain Daniel Passarella, has also been watched closely by Barcelona and Manchester City.

Another Manchester United player destined to leave on a free is Federico Macheda. The Italian’s agent Giovanni Bia has confirmed that United do not want to send the striker out on loan any more after his spell at Doncaster.

The 22-year-old has interest from Torino, Chievo, Fiorentina, Parma, Inter Milan and Bologna so a return to Italy seems likely.

His agent Giovani Ba told Tuttomercato: ‘United won’t loan him out anymore. He will stay till the summer, when he can move on a free. It’s crazy to think that it has been five years since he scored that goal against Aston Villa but it was always going to be difficult for him to live up to the expectations he made of himself.

‘At 22, Macheda still has his whole career ahead of him and hopefully he can have better luck with injuries and find a team where he can get regular first team football outside of United.’

Arsenal’s need for a striker has prompted offers from across Europe. Juventus have been keen to offload Mirko Vucinic and Fabio Quagliarella but it is understood the player Arsenal would prefer from Juventus if they had their pick would be the ‘Atomic Ant’ Sebastien Giovinco.

The 26-year-old has only played 12 games this season and is among those Juve would consider offloading along with midfielder Claudio Marchisio who has been offered to Manchester United but David Moyes is reluctant to take.

Arsenal are also being made aware that Loic Remy is yet to agree any long term deal with Newcastle. He is a player Arsene Wenger knows well and QPR are keen to recoup the money they paid for him as they look to bolster their own promotion push.

Although a £2m loan payment was made for the France international, the option of an extra £8m to make it permanent has not been taken up yet by Newcastle who continue to talk to Borussia Monchengladbach about a loan for Luuk de Jong.

Remy at least would be eligible for Champions League but Wenger has reservations about whether he would fit into their style of play.

Ironically, a former favourite of Alan Pardew’s Salomon Rondon at Rubin Kazan has also been discussed at Arsenal but one that may be of familiar interest is Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette.

The fiery 22-year-old has scored nine goals in 21 games this season and is well thought of by French scouts with Lyon hitting financial trouble also.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic could move on after the weekend. Jose Mourinho’s assistant coach Jose Marais is expected to attend Sunday’s game between Benfica and Porto to run the rule over the Serbian international.

Manchester City, Liverpool and United have all been approached about Matic with each club different in their perception of what level he is at. The 26-year-old is still understood to be uncomfortable about how Chelsea initially sold him as part of the David Luiz transfer without giving him a chance to develop but accepts the opportunity he has had at Benfica may not have been open initially at Chelsea.

His representatives have a good relationship with Roman Abramovich as do Chelsea with Benfica and that could help convince him to give London another try.

One player who may not be at Stamford Bridge when Matic returns is Michael Essien with AC Milan showing interest in taking the 32-year-old midfielder. Essien has interest from the MLS and Middle East but Milan would be difficult to resist if they make a formal offer in the next few days.

Wicked whisper

Which Premier League winger has had to pay ‘friends’ in tickets and hospitality rather than risk them showing his wife naked photographs they took of him after he got carried away following a day out at the races.

Although he is not pictured with any females, his wife had barred him from going the racetrack after, ahem, a losing streak

AC Milan defender Cristian Zaccardo could be heading to the Premier League in return. Zaccardo, who can play full-back or centre-back, has been in talks with West Bromwich Albion.

Everton are continuing their recruitment drive for the summer by monitoring Espanyol centre-back Hector Moreno.

The stylish Mexico international was a target for Swansea City and Cardiff last summer as they discussed potential £8million bids and he has continued to perform to a consistent standard.

The 25-year-old has 49 caps for his country and has been watched by Rubin Kazan and Barcelona also this season.

Everton had scouts at Alcoron to watch them play Espanyol on Wednesday in the cup and Moreno put in a reasonable display.

Manager Roberto Martinez, who has agreed a deal for winger Aiden McGeady from Spartak, wants a left-sided centre-back as he considers the long-term with Sylvain Distin now 36.

Martinez is also in the market for another striker with interest gathering in Nikica Jelavic. Crystal Palace, Hull City, Stoke and West Ham have also shown interest in the Croatian with Everton looking for at least £4million.

With that knowledge, Everton have a few players in mind but scouts were also at the Bernabeu last night. Alvaro Morata came on as a late substitute for Real Madrid but Osasuna striker Oriol Riera also impressed.

The 27-year-old former Barcelona academy graduate has scored seven goals in 17 games this season but against Real Madrid, Atletico, Malaga and Sevilla.

Dusan Tadic has been heavily linked with a move to Everton this week. The Serbia international is valued at £10million and reports in Holland suggested a move was imminent for the FC Twente midfielder but Roberto Martinez shook his head when asked the direct question ‘was he joining Everton?’ in Thursday’s press conference.

The versatile 25-year-old has attracted Barcelona scouts to De Grolsch Veste Stadium this season but the Dutch say that Liverpool have also made enquiries prior to Christmas.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is looking for someone who can play across the forward line as a second striker and winger. He is continuing negotiations with Basle for Mohamed Salah but Dinamo Kiev’s Andriy Yarmolenko is back on the radar and Tadic also fits the profile and would be at least £5m cheaper if they wish to bid.

Blackburn Rovers want to take Falkirk defender Will Vaulks on trial. The 20-year-old has impressed in the Scottish First Division since leaving Tranmere Rovers around 18 months ago and is attracting other Championship clubs also.

Five clubs will be represented at Falkirk’s home match against Hamilton tomorrow. QPR, meanwhile, are following up interest in Livingston defender Coll Donaldson and could conclude a deal this week.

Swansea are signing Hearts midfielder Adam King in a £200,000 deal which would also see the 18-year-old return to Hearts on loan for the rest of the season.

Doncaster Rovers are in talks over a move for former West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas. The 30-year-old is a free agent after leaving Romanian side CFR Cluj in October.

The player’s agent Florin Manea says there are a number of clubs interested and added: ‘Gabi wants to go to England, it is his desire. There are a few teams that are interested in him. At the moment I have a written offer from an European team, we’ll decide by the end of the week.

A team from the French Ligue 1 also expressed their interest, we want to make the best choice.’ Former Doncaster Rovers midfielder James Harper is training with Portsmouth.

Wigan are lining up a move for Everton defender Tyias Browning on loan as Uwe Rosler looks to bolster his defence as Rob Kiernan weighs up a loan move to Brentford.

Manchester City goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon is wanted by Real Betis this month and the Romanian is interested. The 26-year-old expects Joe Hart to reclaim the mantle of number one at City and is wary that Manuel Pellegrini is looking to bring in another top keeper from Spain albeit perhaps in the summer rather than January.

City will not sell without finding a replacement but Betis are willing to pay £414,000. Meanwhile, Henrik Larsson’s newly-promoted Falkenberg are taking Manchester City midfielder Godsway Donyoh back to Sweden on loan.

The young Ghanaian spent last season on-loan with Djurgardens IF as part of their developing partnership with City.

Belgian goalkeeper Frank Boeckx is considering an offer to join Leicester City on trial. The 27-year-old has been at AA Gent and St Truiden and is also a former Belgium U21 international. Leicester, who have bid for Nantes striker Filip Djordjevic have also agreed a three year deal with Le Havre winger Riyad Mahrez.

Celtic have offered £2m for Stromsgodset midfielder Stefan Johansen. However, Norway’s player of the year has also been recommended to Aston Villa by former striker John Carew.

Big bad John said: ”Villa should definitely take a closer look at midfielder Stefan Johansen. He would be a good addition to the team. He’s Player of the Year back home, young, has the heart of a lion and has the stamina of a Duracell rabbit! He’s also humble and hard-working.

‘I’ve been asked by Villa fans about who they should sign this month and I told them they should go for Stefan.’

Villa are in the market for a midfielder but ideally want more experience than the 23-year-old has to offer. They remain keen on a striker too but are not in for Celtic’s Georgios Samaras or Nahki Wells at Bradford however, they have loaned 18-year-old midfielder Jordan Graham to Bradford.

—Daily Mail