Manchester United plot whopping £79m raid for Paris Saint-Germain and Italy star

Manchester United are reportedly ready to cough up a whopping £79m in a bid to land Italy international star Marco Verratti this summer, according to Corriere dello Sport (via the Daily Star).

The 13-time Premier League champions, who could only finish fourth in the English top-flight standings last term, are considering a mega money move for the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The 23-year-old; who has 15 international caps for his country, but misses Italy’s EURO 2016 campaign due to a groin injury, provided five assists in 28 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit last season.

Verratti, who joined PSG from Italian side Pescara back in 2012, is currently under contract with the reigning French champions until 2020 – with the club’s chiefs desperate to keep hold of the central midfielder, despite his recent injury-hit term.

However the report suggests that new Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho is ready to test their resolve with a huge €100m (£79m) bid, with former teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic also expected to complete a move to Old Trafford this summer.