Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly ready to make a sensational move to bring free agent Sol Campbell to Old Trafford as he looks to remedy his side's defensive crisis.

Campbell, 35, finally reached an agreement with Notts County to tear up his five-year contract last month following his controversial exit from Meadow Lane, and United have emerged as shock favourites to secure his signature.

The Red Devils have a long list of injured personnel, particularly in the rearguard, with no fewer than eight defenders currently sidelined, including Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Gary Neville, Jonny Evans and John O'Shea.

This forced Ferguson to resort to playing midfielders Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, as well as wing-back Patrice Evra, in an unfamiliar three-man defence for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash against VfL Wolfsburg.

Sir Alex is therefore said to be looking into the possibility of signing Campbell in January as a temporary solution, according to The Sun, having been made aware that the centre-back has been maintaining his fitness with former club Arsenal.

It is understood that Ferguson would be keen to offer Campbell the chance to train at the club's Carrington training facility in order to check on his fitness ahead of the transfer window which opens on January 1st.

Campbell is unlikely to refuse the lure of a potential move to the Premier League champions, signing a short-term deal similar to the one that saw Swedish legend Henrik Larsson strutt his stuff at the Theatre of Dreams in 2007.

A move to United would give the former Arsenal and Tottenham defender a chance of winning more honours in the twilight of his career as well as possibly rekindling his faint hopes of making England's World Cup squad.