Manchester United and Liverpool have reportedly joined the hunt for Hellas Verona defender Marash Kumbulla, and have sent scouts to watch the player in action.
Kumbulla, 20, came through the academy at Verona, and made his debut in 2018 in a 2-0 loss to Catania in the Coppa Italia.
He has become an important part of the first-team this season, making 17 appearances in Serie A, and is receiving plaudits for his assured performances at the back.
According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, United and their rivals Manchester City have been monitoring Kumbulla for some time, with Liverpool and Dortmund also keeping an eye on the situation ahead of a potential bid in the summer.
It seems unlikely Verona would be able to resist a big-money offer for their young starlet at the end of the season, and although they currently value him at around £25m that figure could rise if he continues to impress from now until the end of the current campaign.
He could represent a bargain buy for one of the interested teams, with United in particular looking for options to deputise for the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
The Red Devils have also been linked with a move for Real Valladolid centre-back Mohammed Salisu, and it appears following the January capture of central midfielder Bruno Fernandes they are now prioritising a new defender and striker.
Liverpool, meanwhile, regularly look to invest in youth, and brought in 18-year-old defender Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle and 16-year-old winger Harvey Elliott from Fulham last summer.
Kumbulla's Verona currently lie in sixth place in Serie A this season as they mount a surprise challenge for European qualification, and they are unbeaten in their last seven games.
Scouts will have another chance to look at Kumbulla when Verona take on Udinese on Sunday.
