Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Marquinhos, Darren Fletcher Rumours

Manchester United will likely have to part with significant sums of money in the next couple of transfer windows to strengthen their improving but still inconsistent defence.

However, the most recent reports suggest that Paris Saint-Germain have quoted the Red Devils a world-record smashing £112 million if United wish to sign centre-back Marquinhos from the Ligue 1 outfit.

According to The Sun (h/t James Dickenson in the Express), Louis van Gaal is preparing a summer move for the 20-year-old Brazilian—who reportedly wants out of the French capital—but a source suggests an astronomical figure will be required to make the move stick:

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It was said in a jokey manner but Paris Saint-Germain are certain to expect a huge return on their investment to show they did not spend all that money for Marquinhos for nothing.

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Marquinhos moved to PSG from Roma for £26 million in 2013, thus while the quoted £112 million is a ludicrous sum, per Ligue 1 journalist Jonathan Johnson, he certainly won't come cheap if the Red Devils are indeed interested in signing him up:

He would be a valuable asset at United where current central defensive options Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair are failing to really show their worth, but Marquinhos is still very young and he would be a risky signing, especially at a very high price.

Van Gaal should arguably be looking for a more experienced signing at centre-back, perhaps the long-linked Mats Hummels or Valencia's 26-year-old Nicolas Otamendi, per B/R UK's Sam Tighe below:

In terms of outward-going players at United, veteran midfielder Darren Fletcher is reportedly not set for a January move to Valencia despite recent rumours of such a switch, per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan. 

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague indicates that, while both parties were interested, the move for Fletcher to La Liga will not go ahead:

However, that is not to say that the 30-year-old Scot will not depart Old Trafford soon with his contract set to expire in the summer.

Fletcher has barely featured under Van Gaal this term, making only four Premier League starts per WhoScored.com, and as Tighe suggests above, it may be that he is simply not good enough any more to play at the very top level.

But he certainly still has the quality to warrant a move to another Premier League club, with West Brom and West Ham both reportedly interested in the midfielder, per The Independent's Ian Herbert.

Fletcher has been hugely successful at United, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League, and he may yet see out his contract until the summer, but an imminent departure does seem likely.