Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Arsenal Competition for Moyes in Chase for Italian International

Manchester United are set for competition from Arsenal for the signature of Torino forward Alessio Cerci.

The Italian international forward has been in sparkling form this season, scoring 8 goals in 12 games in the Serie A.

Those performances have piqued the interest of the likes of United and Arsenal, who are looking for a player that can give some support to the overburdened Olivier Giroud.

David Moyes, though, could also use some pace and creative flair and United have reportedly monitored Cerci for a few months, according to reports in Italy.

However, both Manchester United and Arsenal could be usurped by a bid from Juventus, who are also keen on the 26-year-old.

Torino are expecting a bid of around £15 million for Cerci and none of the three interested clubs should have a problem in matching that figure.

Cerci, though, is reluctant to leave Italy midway through the season. The forward had become a regular fixture in Cesare Prandelli's Italy squad recently and is concerned, a move to the English Premier League, where he could take time to settle, could scupper his chances of making the Italy team for the 2014 World Cup.

That makes Juventus favourites to land Cerci, but they need to offload Mirko Vucinic, a player who has been linked with a move to United in the past, before making a bid in January.

Meanwhile, United coach Phil Neville revealed manager David Moyes is looking to spend in the January transfer window. United endured a frustrating summer window, unable to sign any of their main targets, eventually only landing Marouane Fellaini from Everton.

"In the transfer window early on in the season we were looking for players, that was well documented and that search continues," Neville told the BBC.

"We need to keep reinvesting in the squad because if you stand still in this league you get left behind, as Manchester City found out last season when they didn't strengthen as much and they ended up losing the league [title]."

Neville said the loss to West Brom in late September at Old Trafford was the wake-up call that United required, following which the reigning English Premier League champions go on an impressive unbeaten run, which was capped off by victory over Arsenal.

"Defeat by West Brom was a real wake-up call for the players and manager," the former Everton player added. "The players are beginning to trust the manager and his philosophy and I think you saw that against Arsenal.         

"It was always going to take a bit of time after one man had controlled the club for so long. There was always going to be a transition period."