Real Madrid Transfer News: Marquinhos, Jose Gimenez Targeted, Latest Rumours

Real Madrid will reportedly renew their interest in Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos, while Atletico Madrid starlet Jose Maria Gimenez is also on the club's transfer wishlist. Meanwhile, French rumours suggest Raphael Varane could be open to a move to Manchester United.

According to Marca's Carlos Carpio, Marquinhos was Los Blancos' top option to sign as a replacement for Sergio Ramos last summer, but when the longtime Real star didn't move to Manchester United, they abandoned their chase.

But with Pepe turning 34 next season and the uncertainty surrounding Varane, Los Blancos could be tempted to return for Marquinhos this summer. And per Carpio, the PSG star may be open to a move:

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Prising Marquinhos away from PSG will not be easy... unless Marquinhos wants to leave. The 21-year-old Brazilian is in his third season, playing in the shadow of David Luiz and Thiago Silva, at the Parisian club and is beginning to tire of a lack of first-team football that often seems to come at right-back. The PSG president does not want to hear of letting him go, but the club's head coach, Laurent Blanc, did recently admit there was a problem: "We cannot continue in a situation in which Marquinhos is not playing week in and week out. We'll have to make a decision at the end of the season and we will."

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Thiago Silva and David Luiz are PSG's top options in the heart of the defence, and while Marquinhos has seen his fair share of minutes this season, he's unlikely to become a regular starter anytime soon. Per WhoScored.com, he has played 13 Ligue 1 matches in the 2015-16 campaign.

He's made the most of his minutes, as you can see in the video below:

The Brazilian isn't a physically imposing player, but he's an excellent technician with great vision and athletic ability. He can hold his own as a right-back, but he's at his best in a central role playing next to a bruiser. Marquinhos can then sit back and patiently attack forwards, using his tackling skills and superb positioning.

Speaking to Le Journal du Dimanche (h/t Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson), Marquinhos has already opened the door to a possible move:

Of course, the issues he has with playing time in Paris might not be any different in the Spanish capital. Real have rotated Varane, Pepe and Ramos all season, and they would likely do the same should Marquinhos arrive.

Gimenez is another option for Los Blancos, but convincing the Uruguayan to leave the Rojiblancos to join their archrivals won't be easy.

Per Marca (h/t MailOnline's Rohan Banerjee), Gimenez has a £51 million buyout clause―such clauses are mandatory in Spain―and the newspaper went all out with the rumour, splashing his face all over the front page, as shared by this fan:

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Marca:

Like Gimenez
• Atletico CB is one of Real Madrid's options to strengthen the defense.
• €65m release clause pic.twitter.com/BR3u8KGmRj

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) March 30, 2016"

Atletico would be powerless to stop a move should Real trigger the clause, but they gave Gimenez his chance to shine on the biggest stage, and the defender seems perfectly happy playing under manager Diego Simeone.

A move for Marquinhos seems more likely, even if the Brazilian would likely cost the club more than the £51 million it would take to land Gimenez.

Much will depend on Varane, who hasn't been in the greatest form throughout the 2015-16 campaign and will be a target for Manchester United during the summer, per Le 10 Sport (h/t Daily Express' James Dickenson). While he's not expected to leave the Spanish capital, the report suggests he is intrigued by the opportunity United would present.

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Former Real manager Jose Mourinho is the favourite to replace Louis van Gaal as the Red Devils' boss, per the Sun's Matt Heath-Smith, and the Portuguese manager holds a special place in Varane's heart, as he told Le Journal du Dimanche (h/t Mark Critchley of the Independent).

He played a key role in Varane's development, and he's expected to try to land his protege if he does land the job at Old Trafford.

But Varane remains one of the most talented young defenders in the world, and Real won't just let him leave for the Premier League club. If he continues his development, Los Blancos won't even have to search for a world-class defender to replace Pepe, so don't expect him to go anywhere next summer.

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