Man U to get 'third-time lucky' with Leighton Baines during Jan transfer window

Defending Premier League champions Manchester United will reportedly sign Everton player Leighton Baines after two previous unsuccessful attempts for 16 million pounds in the January transfer window.

Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had tried to sign Baines in summer 2012 and his successor David Moyes also bid for the left-back from former club Everton in the summer along with Marouane Fellaini, although Moyes failed to get Baines.

However, the Mirror reports that the Old Trafford side is poised to get Baines at the third attempt when the window opens in January 2014 and Moyes expects to bring in Baines as the long-term successor of Patrice Evra, who is expected to leave United next summer to return to his native France.

The report mentioned that the added attraction with Baines is that he will not be cup-tied in Europe, meaning that he will be eligible for the Champions League should United progress.