Barcelona transfer news: Catalans hold meeting with Marquinhos' agents ahead of summer move from PSG

Barcelona officials have met with Marquinhos's agents to discuss the Paris Saint-Germain star making a summer move to the Nou Camp, according to Spanish media. Sport claims Chelsea and Manchester City are also interested in the Brazilian, but the Catalan outfit are understood to be his preferred destination.

The news comes after Marquinhos' brother, Luan Aoas, revealed the played had already been in contact with a number of clubs regarding a departure from PSG. The 21-year-old's future at the Ligue 1 side has been under huge scrutiny in recent weeks, having become increasingly frustrated with his second-tier role at the club, being firmly behind Thiago Silva and David Luiz in Laurent Blanc's pecking order

Marquinhos' brother said to Canal +, as quoted by Sport: "There are a lot of clubs interested in Marquinhos, they have already spoken with me."

"It will be at the end of the season when we meet – me and my father – with PSG and Marquinhos' agent [Giuliano Bertolucci] to make a decision," he added, although suggesting that the player's priority would be to remain in Ligue 1. "We will see what happens, but I hope he stays at PSG."

Sport now claims one of the interested clubs is Barcelona. The Catalans have been linked with the Brazilian since his early days at Roma.

Reports linking him with a move to the Liga leaders have increased in recent months after Barca publicly admitted signing a centre-back to partner Gerard Pique is their top priority for the upcoming mercato. Aymeric Laporte, Jose Maria Jimenez, Eric Bailly and Chelsea starlet Andreas Christensen – on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach – are also among the top candidates.

Sport claims that officials at the Nou Camp recently met in Barcelona with Marquinho's agent, Giuliano Bertolucci, and the player's brother to discuss a summer move to Luis Enrique's team. The club would be prepared to pay a fee in excess of €30m (£23.3, $33.9m) to secure his services.

Meanwhile Mundo Deportivo, the other major Catalan publication, has suggested Marquinho's teammate Thiago Silva would be keen on a move to the Nou Camp. The publication claims Thiago Silva feels his chances of winning the Champions League would be greatly improved by leaving PSG for Barca.

The veteran defender turned down an offer from Barcelona in 2012 to move to the Ligue 1 side. Mundo Deportivo, however, claims that the Liga giants have other priorities than his signing right now, as the Brazilian is already 31-year-old.

Silva himself confirmed in February that Barcelona wanted to sign Marquinho amid his compatriot's struggles at the Ligue 1 side.

"His situation is difficult. Marquinhos is a player with great qualities who would be able to play in any team in Europe. That's the reason why Barca and others have already enquired [about him]," Silva said, as quoted by Sport.

"But it's the fault of his agent. He transferred David Luiz to Paris and then was left with two of his players in competition. And the third central defender is the captain of the team – me."