Manchester United raided Villarreal last summer for centre-back Eric Bailly and the Red Devils are prepared to return to El Madrigal again.
Spanish winger Samu Castillejo is being monitored, claim Italian outlet Il Mattino, with a £35m offer thought to be on the table.
Jose mourinho will face competition though, with Arsenal, Napoli and Atletico Madrid also thought to be keen.
The 22-year-old has scored twice and provided four assists in La Liga this term, settling in quickly after his move in 2015 from Malaga.
United step up Bakayoko chase
Manchester United are stepping up their efforts to sign Monaco's £40million-rated midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, writes David McDonnell.
Jose Mourinho has made Bakayoko his major midfield target this summer, with United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward entrusted with making the move happen .
Bakayoko has been one of Monaco's stand-out players this season and scored the winner in their 3-1 win over Manchester City that dumped Pep Guardiola's side out of the Champions League.
United scouts were at that game to watch the dynamic Bakayoko, who has emerged as one of the most coveted young central midfielders in Europe.
The 22-year-old is keen to play for a big-name coach like Mourinho but wants to play in the Champions League next season – something United cannot yet guarantee.
Mourinho sees Bakayoko as the ideal long-term replacement for Michael Carrick, who is likely to leave United this summer after 11 years at Old Trafford.
Mourinho criticises international friendlies
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has slammed international friendlies after Chris Smalling and Phil Jones picked up injuries on England duty, writes Jim Daly.
Both Red Devils defenders were forced to sit out the Three Lions' 2-0 World Cup qualification win over Lithuania.
Smalling picked up a leg injury during England's friendly defeat to Germany last Wednesday while Jones could be out for a month after he suffered a toe injury in training, ironically after a challenge from Smalling.
"I am totally against the friendly matches," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
"I think friendly matches for the national team only make sense before the final phases.
"A couple of weeks before the Euros or a couple of weeks before the World Cup makes sense. But mid-season friendly matches mixed with qualification matches, I don't think that makes sense."
Ibrahimovic boost
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has given the strongest hint yet that he is ready to commit to Manchester United for another season, writes David McDonnell.
The forward, who has scored 26 goals in his debut season for United, has been coy on his future and so far refused to confirm if he will be at Old Trafford next season.
But the 35-year-old, who is currently suspended, has given United fans hope by saying he “never leaves a job unfinished’ and confirming he is in talks with the Reds over a contract extension.
Opening up on his time at United, Ibrahimovic said: “I enjoy. I’m a person when I go into something I put my head 200 per cent, and I do what I’m good at. I go in, I go for the kill and I go out.
"And when I go out there is no complaints, that’s what I do. I never leave a job unfinished."
Rashford to lead line against West Brom
Manchester United will give Marcus Rashford another chance to end his six-month Premier League goal drought this weekend, writes David McDonnell.
Rashford has not scored in the Premier League since plundering United’s third goal in a 4-1 win over Leicester at Old Trafford on September 24.
The England striker, 19, has bagged three FA Cup goals since then, but has drawn a blank in his 18 subsequent Premier League appearances.
But with Zlatan Ibrahimovic serving the final game of a three-match ban this Saturday, Rashford is set to lead United’s attack at home to West Brom.