According to reports in the Sunday Mirror, Manchester United are targeting a summer move for Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Marquinhos, rated at £49.5m by Transfermarkt, but only as back-up option to Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Sunday Mirror says that Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho wants to add some quality in midfield and defence at the end of the season, and he wants the £70m-rated Varane – whom he worked with during his time at the Bernabeu – with PSG’s Marquinhos a back-up option if he can’t bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford.
The Sunday Mirror says that Mourinho could move Paul Pogba on this summer after losing patience with him, and he believes that the Ligue 1 giants could be open to a deal that would see their club-record signing go to the French capital, with Marquinhos and his teammate Marco Verratti – whom the fans have urged the club to sign – coming the other way.
How has Marquinhos done this season?
He has impressed.
The Brazil international played every minute of PSG’s Champions League campaign, while he has been a regular for them in Ligue 1 too as they close in on another title.
According to WhoScored.com, the 24-year-old’s main strengths are his passing, his dribbling and ability to make blocks, and he has an incredible passing accuracy of 93.8% in 28 appearances in France and in Europe this term, while he has successfully completed both of the dribbles he has attempted.
Defensively, he has won 34 out of the 44 tackles he has attempted, while he has made 24 interceptions, 44 blocks and 121 clearances.
Would he be a good signing for United?
He certainly would be.
The 24-year-old is hugely experienced having appeared almost 200 times for PSG in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, winning titles, while he has 24 caps for his country.
The fact that he is so good on the ball as well as being impressive defensively would certainly impress Mourinho, and he would be a huge upgrade on the options that the Portuguese boss has – the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
In many ways, Marquinhos would probably be a better and more realistic addition for the Red Devils than Varane, and would help the club become contenders in the Premier League and the Champions League again.
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