Real Madrid are reportedly ready to fork out £90million to land Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Koulibaly is on Manchester United's radar as they hunt a central defender during the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old has established himself as one of Europe's premier stoppers and Napoli are understandably desperate to retain his services.
They are unwilling to accept anything less than the fee Real are pondering but Los Blancos may stump up the cash as they bid to get their season back on track.
Real sit fifth in La Liga after a nightmare start and are already 10 points behind Clasico rivals and table-toppers Barcelona .
United, meanwhile, are keen for defensive reinforcements having missed out on each of their targets in the summer.
Jose Mourinho was keen to land a top centre-half and was vocal in his frustration after failing to do so, before losing his job last month.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been promised funds and Koulibaly is on United's shortlist.
However, Roma defender Kostas Manolas has emerged as their No.1 target.
CR7ICON
68
all lies...Madrid is saving £120m to buy Phil Jones not koulibaly
Longlife2000
64
if Madrid sign Koulibaly then Ramos and Varane who is going to be on the bench because Ramos is the captain and the leader of the club and Varane is now among the best defenders in the world at the moment so it's a big question to ask who will be on the bench because they is no way Koulibaly will sign for any club and want to be on the bench because he is also one of the best defenders in the world and the best defender in Italian league so I see this Koulibaly transfer to Madrid very strange because Ramos and Varane are still playing at the top level so Madrid need to sign a young talented defender who will accept a backup position but not Koulibaly who will be a starter in any team in the world. ..I know some Madrid fans will not understand me and try to insult me but am saying this from a football point of view and it's true because Ramos, Varane and Koulibaly no one will like to be on the bench so which two will start. ..