Rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to battle Manchester United for the signature of Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia.
The Red Devils are keen to bring in a centre-back this summer and are weighing up offers for either Ranocchia or Benfica's Ezequiel Garay.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been promised a £70m transfer kitty in this transfer window and plans to spend some of that on strengthening his defence, while the appointment of Franco Baldini as their director of football has seen Spurs linked with a number of Italian players.
According to the Daily Express, both North London clubs are monitoring Ranocchia, but United remain in pole position for a player whom they have been admirers of for long.
Napoli and Juventus have also been linked with a move for the 25-year-old, who has made 10 international appearances for Italy.
