Manchester United and Chelsea have both expressed interest in signing Paris St-Germain defender Marquinhos, who is valued at around euros 50?million (pounds 40?million) by the French champions.
PSG would prefer to negotiate a swap deal for the Brazilian international, who turns 22 next month, if they decide to sell this summer but are aware that other clubs are -circling and that he may be unsettled. Barcelona are also considering whether to make an offer.
United and Chelsea are monitoring the situation and have both been linked with Marquinhos in the past. Chelsea had a late offer for the highly-rated defender rejected last summer when their pursuit of John Stones failed.
PSG would still be reluctant to sell. A source suggested, however, that the club may be interested in a player-exchange rather than a cash deal with whomever they do business with given they want to -reshape their squad. There are players at both United and Chelsea who would interest them.
Indeed PSG attempted to sign Memphis Depay before he moved to United. They may be less keen on the Dutch international now given his disappointing season. However, they have found with Angel Di Maria that the problems may lie at Old Trafford, with the Argentine having regained his form in France since joining PSG from United last summer.
Similarly, PSG have expressed -interest in the past in Chelsea midfielder Oscar and have recently been linked with Diego Costa, -although the striker has set his heart on a return to Atletico Madrid should he be granted his wish to leave the Premier League at the end of this season.
PSG's interest in Eden Hazard is long-standing but it is known that the 25-year-old would prefer not to return to the French league. Chelsea do not want to sell him either.
Both United and Chelsea are in the market for commanding, ball-playing central defenders and Marquinhos fits the bill. Juventus's -Leonardo Bonucci is the first choice of Chelsea's incoming manager -Antonio Conte but he is unlikely to be sold.
Marquinhos is not first choice centre-half at PSG and has -struggled for opportunities behind countrymen Thiago Silva and David Luiz. He has often been used at right-back. He became the most expensive teenager in world football when he joined PSG for pounds 25?million in 2013 from Roma, signing a five-year deal.
Should Barcelona step up their interest, they would prove -formidable rivals to the Premier League clubs. Barca have to decide whether to find another central -defender, having deployed Javier Mascherano there in recent seasons.
PSG are prepared to make changes this summer with players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Maxwell and Thiago Motta - all in their thirties - out of contract and poised to leave while Edinson Cavani is likely to be sold.
The Qatari-owned club are looking to invest in a younger squad built around Marco Verratti. -Marquinhos is important to their plans although they understand he has become frustrated. PSG will keep Laurent Blanc as their coach despite going out of the Champions League after he got his tactics wrong against Manchester City.