Inter Milan have set their sights on Marquinhos, and the Serie A side are set to battle Barcelona for the Paris Saint-Germain defender, as per reports.
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport have reported that Inter Milan have made Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos their number one target for the summer. The Nerazzurri are interested in making a move for the centre-back who has also been linked with Barcelona.
The 22-year-old Brazilian centre-back is finally starting to deliver on his promise as one of the most highly-rated young defenders in the world, nearly four years after he signed for Paris Saint-Germain from AS Roma in a £27 million deal.
The first three seasons might have been a fight for Marquinhos to carve out an identity in the French capital but 2016/17 has finally seen him establish himself at the heart of the PSG defence. Facilitated by David Luiz’s move to Chelsea, Marquinhos has become a mainstay for Les Parisiens.
He has missed just six games for PSG this season, and has been fundamental to the French champions boasting the best defensive record in Ligue 1, with Parisian club conceding just 19 times in 27 matches so far.
Recent reports have linked long-time admirers Barcelona with Marquinhos, stating that the Spanish champions are set to rekindle their interest in the Brazilian in the summer. Indeed, the Blaugrana are in some serious need of some defensive reinforcements come June.
That is because Javier Mascherano has seen his season hampered by a spate of injuries, while Jeremy Mathieu – who has just 18 months left on his contract – has blown hot and cold. Gerard Pique has been a mainstay for Barcelona but he is in his thirties now, forcing the club to eye potential long-term partners for Samuel Umtiti.
Inter Milan have also been mentioned as potential suitors previously, but it looks like the Nerazzurri are finally ready to make their interest in Marquinhos concrete when the transfer window reopens in June.
For the Italian giants, Miranda has been a solid presence at the back, but neither Jeison Murillo nor Gary Medel have managed to convince consistently. With the Suning Group set to back manager Stefano Pioli with a war chest in the summer, a summer move for Marquinhos could be in the offing.
Inter are also monitoring the likes of Kostas Manolas, Stefan de Vrij and Kalidou Koulibaly but Marquinhos remains their top target for the summer. With the Brazilian starting to come into his own this season, he can be a long-term solution in defence for the resurgent Nerazzurri.
So, it’s starting to look like Marquinhos is set to spark a head-to-head battle for his services in the summer. With recent reports indicating that PSG might be open to selling the defender, this could turn into an all out battle come June.
