Manchester United are considering a move for Marco Verratti as a potential alternative to signing Nemanja Matic from Chelsea, according to reports.
The Premier League champions, who have already bolstered their midfielder with the acquisition of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco, are standing firm as United continue to pursue the Serbia international.
Jose Mourinho is also struggling to secure Eric Dier, his first-choice midfield target, as Tottenham continue to refuse United’s advances for the England international.
And the Daily Star now claims that United have been forced to explore alternatives options with Verratti among the players being considered.
The Italy international is one of Barcelona’s top targets for the summer but the Spanish club have been unable to convince Paris Saint-Germain to sell, even though a €100 million (£88m) bid was reportedly made.
Earlier this week, Verratti confirmed that he has hired Mino Raiola as his new agent after falling out with his previous advisor Donato Di Campli, who had claimed that the midfielder was being held ‘prisoner’ at PSG following Barcelona’s interest.
Raiola has been an influential in United’s transfer business since Mourinho’s arrival as he represented Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Romelu Lukaku in their moves to Old Trafford.
The Daily Star also claims that United could hijack Inter’s move for Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal.
The Serie A club are prepared to pay €60m (£54m) for the Chile international but it’s claimed that he would be open to a move to Old Trafford.
Earlier this week, Mourinho admitted that he would settle for one more signing this summer after initially tasking United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward with bringing him four new players.
‘If we manage to get one more player,’ said the United manager.
‘I am not even crying for two but if we get one player as soon as possible because we can see the way Lindelof is in a team, you can see Lukaku is in a team.’
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