Real Madrid have identified Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez as their "primary" transfer target, according to Madrid-based newspaper Marca. Although Tevez has been playing at United since the beginning of last season, his registration is still held by Media Sports Investment (MSI), and Marca claims a proposed deal to sign him on a permanent basis could still fall through.

"Manchester United must pay €37m (£28.8m) to MSI before January 30," reports Marca today, stating that Tevez's two-year loan to United will expire on that date. "If they don't, Tevez will effectively be owned by MSI, and Real Madrid will set the wheels in motion to bring him to the Bernabeu next season.

"[Madrid manager] Bernd Schuster has made it clear that the signing of a world class striker must be a priority for next season," continues the report. "[Sporting director Predrag] Mijatovic agrees with him."
Marca is regarded by many in Spain as an unofficial mouthpiece for Real, and a number of the club's most high-profile signings – notably those of Zinédine Zidane and David Beckham – have come on the back of concerted campaigns by the paper. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson branded Marca a "vehicle to unsettle players" after it published a series of reports this summer suggesting that Cristiano Ronaldo was close to joining Madrid.

Today's report, however, did concede that signing Tevez could be "fairly complicated" for Real. "At the moment, the situation is out of Real's hands," it continued. "[But] at least if Tevez's contract does fall under the control of MSI, Real Madrid won't have to deal with Manchester United!"

Tevez, for his part, is unhappy with his level of performance at United this season after scoring just once for the club in nine appearances. He has been disappointed with his form just at the moment when competition for places has increased following the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham.

"I am not as dangerous as I used to be," admitted Tevez. "I am not as effective in the penalty area any more. That is something I have lost and something I have to get back. I used to score better goals, great goals. But something strange has happened."