Manchester United are facing Competition from Liverpool and Everton in the race for Portuguese defender Eder Militao.
The defender had been earmarked as a potential signing by Jose Mourinho last month and the club are still monitoring his situation.
However, according to UOL Sport, Manchester United will need to battle with Everton and Liverpool.
Real Madrid have also been linked but the Brazilian publication claims the defenders wants to move to England.
United have identified a number of defensive options with Kalidou Koulibaly the No 1 target.
But Milan Skriniar, Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire remain on the radar along with Militao.
The 20-year-old can play right-back or centre-back and would offer some versatility with Antonio Valencia and Marcos Rojo likely to leave United in the next six months.
At Liverpool Jurgen Klopp has been dealt a defensive blow with Trent Alexander-Arnold being ruled out for a month after Nathaniel Clyne joined Bournemouth on loan for the season.
Everton meanwhile have Michael Keane, Kurt Zouma and Yerry Mina all battling for a spot in the middle and Seamus Coleman on the right.
None of the three clubs have completed a transfer this month and look like going through the whole window without an addition.
Everton are probably the most likely to bring anyone in with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in caretaker charge at United and Jurgen Klopp keen to not rock the boat during the title challenge.
But Marco Silva will have to sell before he buys with midfielder Idrissa Gueye linked with PSG.
UOL though claim that there is ‘real interest’ from the trio in Militao.
Militao only joined Porto in the summer in a move from Sao Paulo and made his Brazil debut last year against El Salvador in September.
He has played 14 times in the league for Porto and five in the Champions League, impressing at centre-back alongside Felipe, as they lead the Portuguese top flight by five points.pp