Alex Ferguson confirms left-back search

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that the club are in the market for a left-back this summer.

The Red Devils have been strongly linked with Everton's Leighton Baines throughout the summer, though an official bid has not yet been placed.

With Patrice Evra turning 31 next month, Ferguson is looking to bring in some competition for his regular first-team spot. Left-back options are needed in the United squad, with Ezequiel Fryers leaving for Tottenham Hotspur and Fabio out on loan at Queens Park Rangers.

"Left-back is an area which we're paying attention to in that sense that Patrice, in the last five years, has played an average of 45 to 50 games," said Ferguson.

"Patrice will be all right. He's shown he has a resilience about him and has a great attitude to playing, but he is 31 next month.

"But because he is never injured the opportunities haven't been there for Fabio, who needs to play because he has enormous ability. With him at QPR for a year, we are a little bit short in that department."

Everton are desperate to hold onto Baines, setting a £12 million price tag, but United are trying to bring that figure down to around £8 million.