The Dutch playmaker's stunning form for club and country has alerted Sir Alex Ferguson, who is believed to be searching for a long-term successor to the 35-year-old Paul Scholes.
Ferguson insists that the majority of the £80 million acquired from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid last summer is available for new purchases and, given the 26-year-old's potentially high resale value, United's American owners are reportedly willing to splash the cash on one of the stars of the World Cup.
Sneijder, who was integral to Inter Milan's treble-winning season cost the Nerazzurri £20 million after being squeezed out at the Bernabeu following the signing of Kaka.
Ferguson has suggested he will make one quality signing this summer, although a stumbling block could be Ferguson's frayed relationship with his old Premier League foe Rafael Benitez, who is now at Inter.