Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to make a £21million bid for Lyon's Karim Benzema.
The French striker, 19, is seen as the next Thierry Henry and Ferguson has told the Manchester United moneymen to do whatever it takes to secure the deal.
United were at Lyon's Champions League clash with Rangers last week to iron out details and after Benzema scored twice in a man-of-thematch performance at Ibrox, the price rocketed.
Ferguson had hoped to land him in a player swap deal only with Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre on the table, but after Wednesday's dazzling display he's had to add £6m.
Saha has never fully recovered from injury and Ferguson has lost patience with him, while Silvestre wants to move for first-team action having been sidelined behind Patrice Evra.
A source close to United said: "United have had to offer more than they would have wanted for Benzema, but after his display the other night Ferguson is even more convinced he's grabbing a massive star."
United aren't going to stop spending in January either as they eye up Bordeaux striker Gabriel Obertan for £5m as Fergie is desperate to have four fit, worldclass strikers.
Ferguson knows he cannot rely on only Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez for every competition and sees Benzema and Obertan as players with the pace and skill to finish off his striking lineup for years to come.
United have been missing a targetman with Rooney having to be the main man up front, but with Benzema and Obertan standing at just over six foot tall they would be perfect additions to Fergie's squad. While the United boss has been wat ching Benzema closely since the start of the season, Obertan (pictured below) is a player the Scot has hoped to sign before.
The 18-year-old Frenchman was chased by Ferguson and Chelsea in the past before he signed his professional contracts with Bordeaux, but rejected a move 18 months ago to gain first-team experience.
Obertan was a star student at the French National Institute for Football where he was first spotted and Fergie is convinced he has his man this time around.
Ferguson will have the Premier League running scared if he can land two of Europe's top starlets.
