Marouane Fellaini wanted by PSG when contract runs out at end of season

MAROUANE FELLAINI has emerged as a shock target of Paris Saint-Germain.

The French giants have earmarked Manchester United star Fellaini as a player they want to bring in to strengthen their options in midfield.

And reports in France claim PSG are preparing to offer the Belgium ace a four-year deal to join them on a free transfer next summer.

Respected French news outlet Le10Sport say PSG have highlighted the need to bring in a quality defensive midfield player at the end of the season.

They only have Thiago Motta in that role at the club, and the report claims they see Fellaini as the ideal man to come in to provide added options.

The 30-year-old is out of contract at United at the end of the season and is yet to decide if he wants to extend his stay at the club. Old Trafford bosses want him to remain at the club, particularly manager Jose Mourinho, but they are yet to reach an agreement over a new deal.

PSG have been alerted to the fact he would be available on a free transfer next summer and will be able to offer a lucrative package to tempt him to France. The fact he would come without a fee is also attractive to the Qatar-backed club, who know they need to limit their spending to stay within Uefa Financial Fair Play regulations.

Having splashed out £198million to sign Neymar in the summer, they are also committed to stumping up a further £166m to Monaco for Kylian Mbappe in 2018. With such large sums already on the books, PSG have to be creative with their other signings in order not to incur the wrath of Uefa.

Free transfers are an obvious bonus, which is one of the reasons why they are said to be so keen to snap up Fellaini. The player can begin talking to other clubs from January 1, and can commit to a pre-contract agreement from then if he decides his future no longer lies at United.

Matching the former Everton star's personal demands will not be a problem, but the big issue will be whether he wants regular first team football or not.

Motta is established at the base of the PSG side at present, and Fellaini would have to settle for being a squad player rather than a regular starter if he made the switch to Paris.

From The Sun