LONDON: Manchester United are closing in on £16m deal to land England and Everton defender Leighton Baines, reported the Daily Star.

United manager Alex Ferguson made Baines one of his main targets and hopes to complete the deal before the end of this week.

Ferguson views Baines as the Red Devils' long-term successor to Patrice Evra at leftback and is hoping to sign him in time to take him on the club’s summer tour of South Africa and China next week.

It is understood United will pay an initial £12m for Baines, which could rise by another £4m depending on add-ons.

Everton boss David Moyes is reluctant to sell Baines, but knows he cannot turn down such a tempting offer or persuade the defender to stay at Goodison Park.

Moyes could now use some of the cash to make a move for Juventus ­leftback Reto Zeigler, who spent three years at Tottenham, as Baines’ replacement.

Baines, 27, will become Ferguson's third signing of the summer following Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell.

Meanwhile, midfielder Nani has opened talks with United about a new contract.

Juventus, Inter Milan, Benfica and Borussia Dortmund are interested in him, but Ferguson is keen to keep the player.

The Portugal star, 25, still has 18 months of his ­current £60,000-a-week deal to run. But he wants a pay hike to put him alongside the highest earners at the club and has so far stopped short of ­confirming that he will ­definitely stay.

“I am very happy at ­Manchester United and have been here five years and won every title. The manager has great faith in me and that’s what is important," said Nani.

“Right now my agent is ­negotiating and we will see what ­happens.”

Meanwhile, centreback and captain Nemanja Vidic is in line for his long-awaited comeback on United’s pre-season tour of ­Scandinavia next month.

Vidic has been sidelined since ­December after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage.

He has battled for ­fitness following an ­operation that some ­people feared would end his ­career.

The 30-year-old has returned to full training but will not join United on the trip to South Africa and ­China.

However, it is understood that he will ­return to match action when ­United play games in Norway and Sweden at the start of August.

-mD