Report: Manchester United To Launch Shock Bid For Micah Richards

The Mirror reports that Manchester United are set to make a surprise swoop for Micah Richards, whose future prospects across town at Manchester City has come under intense scrutiny of late.

The England defender has fallen out of the first-team frame at Eastlands this season; summer arrivals Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott have taken the starting centre-back slots, while Pablo Zabaleta is well on his way to making the right-back berth his own.

Recent speculation has linked Richards to both Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, with some sources also suggesting that Chelsea could be interested.

And although City boss Mark Hughes recently declared that the 21-year-old was part of his long-term plans, it is now claimed that a shock switch to Old Trafford could be on the cards.

With Gary Neville nearing retirement time, Wes Brown rarely in full fitness and Rafael da Silva struggling for consistency, Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly eager to secure a new option for the right side of his defence.

Richards, already has 107 Premier League appearances to his name, is contracted to the Sky Blues until 2013.