Manchester United are increasingly confident of landing Paris St Germain defender Marquinhos in a deal worth up to £50million.
United boss Jose Mourinho has made the Brazil international his top defensive target this summer and United are ready to move for the 22-year-old.
PSG are reluctant to lose Marquinhos, but United are said to be confident they can strike a deal to bring the versatile defender to Old Trafford.
Mourinho has doubts over United defensive duo Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, criticising them this week for ruling themselves out of the Manchester derby.
Both are unlikely to play again this season, while the cruciate ligament injury suffered by Marcos Rojo has reinforced United’s need to sign a new centre-back.
Eric Bailly is currently United’s only fit established centre-back, with left-back Daley Blind having been drafted in alongside him as emergency cover.
Mourinho wants players willing to put their bodies on the line for him and Marquinhos, a fierce competitor and robust defender, would certainly fit that bill.
United are understood to have firmed up their interest in Marquinhos, with the onus now on the player to push for the move away from PSG this summer.
Marquinhos, who joined PSG from Roma in 2013, has two years left on his current deal and is said to be keen on the prospect of a new challenge in England.