Manchester United Transfer News: Matteo Darmian, Blaise Matuidi, Latest Rumours

Napoli are reportedly preparing to use some of the money they raised from the sale of Gonzalo Higuain to fund the purchase of Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian. 

The Partenopei sold Higuain to Juventus for £75 million and, with Darmian rumoured to be surplus to requirements in manager Jose Mourinho's United squad, Napoli have become "front-runners" to sign the Italian ahead of Chelsea and the Old Lady, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t James Whaling in the Mirror).

United are short on depth at right-back, and Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe believes Darmian, 26, is the best option Mourinho has in the position:

However, the Portuguese may yet sign a new right-back or opt to utilise Antonio Valencia in that position.

In such circumstances, United could be open to selling Darmian, especially if they can recoup most or all of the £12.7 million they paid Torino for him last summer, which they could then put toward a replacement.

The former Palermo man impressed early on for Antonio Conte's Italy side at Euro 2016, working tirelessly up and down the flank in their opener against Belgium.

Darmian is versatile, able to play at full-back, wing-back and in the centre of defence if necessary.

He was excellent for United at the start of the 2015-16 season under former manager Louis van Gaal, but his performances declined as the season wore on.

The Daily Record's Duncan Castles has called on Mourinho to "revitalise the Italian, then bring his game to another level," and he is surely a talented enough player for the Portuguese to put some faith in.

However, if Napoli come in with a decent offer, or Mourinho has his eye on a new full-back, Darmian could well leave Old Trafford this summer.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Meanwhile, United midfield target Blaise Matuidi has reportedly been told he can leave Paris Saint-Germain and could be available for around £30 million.

Per Rob Pollard in the Manchester Evening News, the France international, 29, is seen by Mourinho as a back-up target to Paul Pogba should United fail in their bid to bolster their engine room with the Juventus man.

Pollard added that Chelsea and Juve are also targeting Matuidi, but United will surely go hard after him if they miss out on signing Pogba, as additions are needed at Old Trafford in central midfield.

Per the Daily Mail's Adam Crafton, the addition of Matuidi—for significantly less than they would have to pay for Pogba—would free up some funds to make vital additions elsewhere, including at right-back:

"

Just a thought but #mufc might be better off spending that £100m on a right-back, centre-back and Matuidi...

— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) July 26, 2016"

While not as high profile or attacking as Pogba, Matuidi has every asset United need to add necessary solidity to their squad.

His defensive attributes are excellent—much needed in front of an inexperienced back four—while his distribution and work rate are also exemplary, and he would be a fine alternative signing to Pogba.