Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United Boss Sir Alex Ferguson Reuters

If the new reports are to be believed, English Premier League giants Manchester United are monitoring Spanish La Liga club Athletic Bilbao’s young winger Iker Muniain and will be looking to place a transfer deal for the youngster as soon as a transfer window opens in the summer.

Muniain, 19, dubbed the ‘Spanish Messi’ was previously linked with Arsenal last season but the deal failed to materialize. However, the young winger is again in the middle of brewing contention as United have continued to monitor him throughout the season.

The Spaniard got further recognition when he helped his team demolish Manchester United last month in the Europa League. Reportedly, the player’s contribution to the team during the game caught the United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's eye and is now ready to make an attempt and bring him to the Old Trafford.

Ferguson was also said to have chalked out a list of three wingers whom he would like to bring to the club once the transfer window re-surfaces, and Muniain is one of them. The other two being French Ligue 1 side Lille’s Belgian international Eden Hazard and Portugal-based club Benfica’s Argentinean Nicolas Gaitan.

Muniain is said to be valued at $39.59 million (£25 million) by Athletic Bilbao, according to a Tribal Football report.

Muniain, a product of Basque giants Athletic Bilbao's youth ranks, has made as many as 125 appearances for the San Mames-based club and has also managed to score 20 times.