Manchester United transfer news: David Moyes watches Porto stars Eliaquim Mangala and Jackson Martinez as recruitment drive steps up a gear

Moyes is expected to radically revamp the United squad this summer and could also look to sign Benfica’s on-loan defender Guilherme Siqueira from Granada

Eliaquim Mangala (left) and Jackson Martinez

David Moyes has continued his preparation for his summer revamp of the Manchester United squad after being spotted Benfica’s Portugal Cup semi-final against Porto at the Estadio da Luz.

United’s squad is in clear need of strengthening after struggling in the Premier League this season, with a number of players expected to leave the club at the end of the season. Moyes has already brought in Juan Mata in the January transfer window for a pricey £37.1m, and the spending looks set to continue in the summer.

Moyes is believed to have been watching Porto pair Eliaquim Mangala, a transfer target of rivals Manchester City, and striker Jackson Martinez. While the 3-1 defeat to Benfica won’t have helped Mangala’s case, Moyes also used to opportunity to take a look at Benfica’s on-loan left-back Guilherme Siqueira, who is due to return to Granada at the end of the season.

City were close to completing a joint-deal that would’ve seen Mangala and his Porto team-mate Fernando head to the Etihad in January, only for the move to collapse on transfer deadline day. It now seems that Moyes could look to hijack any deal in a bid to strengthen his defense, especially with Nemanja Vidic already confirming his departure to Inter Milan and questions remaining over Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra with their contracts up for renewal this summer.

Both Manchester clubs are reluctant to meet the £37.8m buy-out clause currently in his contract, but it is suggested that Moyes is hoping to find out whether there is room for negotiation with the Porto hierarchy.

Martinez has attracted a large level of interest across Europe having been linked with moves to Arsenal, Chelsea, Roma and United in previous weeks, and it with Moyes showing serious interest in the Colombian striker, it remains to be seen whether he launches a formal bid in the summer before he heads off to the World Cup with his country.

The 27-year-old has scored 44 league goals in under two seasons since arriving in Porto from Chiapas in Mexico, and he is expected to move on in the summer should a top European side meet Porto’s valuation.

With Evra expected to leave the club, Moyes is openly seeking a left-back replacement, and could rival Real Madrid for Siquera’s signature, although reports suggest he remains hopeful on a £30m deal for Luke Shaw.