Manchester United are ready to step up their bid to land Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar after the Italians confirmed the player could leave this summer.
But they face a battle with Real Madrid, who are also keen to sign the Slovakian on the back of a hugely impressive campaign in Serie A as they look for a long-term successor to Sergio Ramos.
Inter are commanding a fee of around £52.5million, although no club has indicated a willingness yet to pay more than £40m plus add-ons.
Manchester City have also looked at a move for Skriniar but decided against it and Barcelona have also been linked with the player.
But it is United and Real who are in the driving seat.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hopes of landing Skriniar could well rest on United qualifying for the Champions League.
The centre-back’s contract at the San Siro runs until June 2023 after he signed a new four-year deal last summer, but Inter have decided to cash in now if they can.
Skriniar, capped 31 times by Slovakia, started out with Zilina in his homeland before joining Sampdoria for £4.5m in January 2016.
He spent 18 months with Sampdoria before Inter splashed out £30m — making him the most expensive Slovakian signing in history.
United are potentially eyeing a new centre-half to play alongside Harry Maguire.
Victor Lindelof has been the Englishman's regular partner at the heart of the Red Devils defence, but doubts still exist over the Swede.
Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and youngster Axel Tuanzebe are other options available to Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
