Manchester United Transfer News: Fresh Lucas Moura Rumours, Latest on Marquinhos

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is understood to be chasing Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas Moura, according to the player's agent. Meanwhile, Barcelona are ready to make a January bid for PSG defender Marquinhos.

The Red Devils were fiercely linked with Moura when he left Sao Paulo for Europe in 2012, and the player's representative, Wagner Ribeiro, said Mourinho is hoping to revive those links, per Daniel Sandford of MailOnline.

He said: "Who called Lucas Moura (from Real Madrid), who wanted Lucas Moura wasn't Florentino Perez, it was Mourinho. Mourinho was, and is, passionate for Lucas Moura. So much so that now at Manchester he wants Lucas as well."

United were associated with a host of wide talents over the summer and ended up signing Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but Match of the Day host Gary Lineker recently suggested more pace is needed:

Moura opted for Paris over Manchester four years ago and has gradually evolved to take his place as one of PSG's key components in recent seasons, particularly after Edinson Cavani's switch to a central role at the club.

However, Metro's Chris Winterburn suggested summer signing Jese Rodriguez could yet challenge for the Brazilian's place under manager Unai Emery:

Mourinho showed serious intent in landing the players he desires over the summer, spending more than £150 million on four major signings, meaning United may now be expected to make a firm approach for Moura.

Elsewhere, the Red Devils could be pressured in the race to land Marquinhos after French daily L'Equipe (h/t Metro's David Hughes) reported Barcelona are ready to submit a £50 million bid for the player in January.

Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

Barca have long been talked of as one of the Brazilian's biggest admirers, and Marquinhos has frequently been linked with the Parc des Princes exit after struggling to tie down a regular place in PSG's starting XI.

However, David Luiz's £32 million return to Chelsea over the summer has led to a decrease in immediate competition at centre-back, and Winterburn hinted Marquinhos can now expect more prominence in the lineup:

United already added Villarreal defender Eric Bailly to their ranks over the summer, and the Ivory Coast international has been a revelation in the middle of Mourinho's back line thus far.

The English giants may not have been planning on a winter approach for Marquinhos, but if speculation of a Barca offer proves genuine, they may need to move more swiftly to have any chance of snatching his services.