Man Utd increasingly confident of signing PSG star

Manchester United are reportedly deemed favourites to sign defender Marquinhos, who is stalling on a fresh deal at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Brazil international has formed a brilliant partnership with Thiago Silva in central defence following David Luiz's return to Chelsea last summer.

According to The Mirror, Jose Mourinho has set his sights on signing a new centre-back after publicly criticising Phil Jones and Chris Smalling for their lack of commitment.

The duo had ruled themselves out of the key Manchester derby, and this has not gone well with Mourinho, who is short of options at the heart of the backline.

Marcos Rojo has been the club's standout performer in defence this season, but even he is out after he sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the Europa League quarter-final clash against Anderlecht.

Daley Blind is currently performing the central defensive duties alongside the ever-reliable Eric Bailly, and a move for Marquinhos could be on the cards this summer with Mourinho said to favour his fighting spirit.

Marquinhos has two years left on his existing PSG deal and a fee of around £50m could be sufficient to lure him to Old Trafford this summer.