COMMENT: Is Marco Verratti worth €100 million? Yes. Is he a Jose Mourinho player? Again, the answer is yes.

We’ll tackle the details later – and there’s some real drama involved in this one.

It’s been staring us in the face, but we’ve missed it. We’ve talked about Mourinho’s need for a big centre-forward to lead his line. About his wish for not one, but at least two top class goalkeepers to be pushing eachother. And that desire for an experienced, gnarled centre-half to lead things from the back.

But what about in midfield? Specifically, what about Mourinho and the way his team is hung off a No6? He had Costinha at Porto. Claude Makelele joined him at Chelsea. Thiago Motta made it work at Inter Milan. With Real Madrid, he had the brilliant Xabi Alonso. Then, Chelsea Mk II, he relied upon Nemanja Matic.

It’s significant that while he was ushering Eric Bailly through Carrington’s gates, Mourinho was also insisting Michael Carrick be handed a new 12-month deal. Nothing had been submitted to the Geordie before Mourinho’s arrival. Carrick, himself, had openly questioned whether United wanted him around next season. But then, in that first full week of being in charge, Mourinho insisted upon the veteran being handed a new deal. There was no back-and-forth. Carrick’s demands were known. They were met. Pen was put to paper. And Mourinho wished him all the best for his summer break.

Now, it emerges Verratti is on the United manager’s radar. He’s sorted out the present with Carrick, now it’s about addressing the future. And as far as quarterbacks go, you won’t find a better player for his age than the 23 year-old from PSG.

We say quarterback, as this is what Mourinho is now seeking. You can see how the role has progressed as the manager has made his way around Europe. Costinha and Makelele were essentially destroyers. Motta can get his foot in, but also boasts a superior passing range. And then there’s Xabi, who… well, c’mon, it’s Xabi. You get the drift…

In Verratti, PSG have the best of everything. He can win a tackle. He can pick a pass. And he’ll get you the odd goal. The Italian has been likened to Andrea Pirlo. But he’s far more mobile and his spiky, competitive nature means he’s always going to be diving into challenges. He doesn’t have the power of Paul Pogba, a genuine peer, but the Juventus man doesn’t cover every blade of grass as Verratti does over a full 90. Where Pogba will drive a team forward, Verratti will agitate, nag and drag his team by the scruff of the neck to get them over the line. A different means to the same end. And if €100 million is a realistic valuation for Pogba, then Verratti is worthy of the same price.

It exploded in Italy on Sunday, the country’s most talented young player is wanted by Mourinho – and price will be no object.

United will not only ask the question, they’ll slap in a world record bid for Verratti. After an offer of €130 million was put to Real Madrid for Gareth Bale and €150 million to Barcelona for Neymar last summer, Ed Woodward isn’t going to hesitate throwing another €100 million at PSG to please Mourinho.

Of course, this is PSG. The state-owned club. The one with the bottomless pit of cash. But it’s also a club which is about to hire a third coach during Verratti’s time with the club. After winning title-after-title at home, any player would expect some stability. But Laurent Blanc is set to follow Carlo Ancelotti out of PSG, soon to be replaced by Unai Emery. If Verratti must start all over again, why not do it in Manchester?

And then there’s the Ibra factor.

Mourinho, from United’s side, may be driving this deal. But Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no passenger. He is close to Verratti. Indeed, the Italian is Ibra’s best friend at PSG. And the Swede has told Mourinho, so they say in Italy, that if a formal move is made, Verratti is willing to join them in Manchester next season.

Adding to the intrigue is that Verratti spent last week in Ibiza with his agent, Donato di Campli. The lawyer wasn’t there for the sights. It was a “working holiday”, according to sources. Verratti’s career was on the agenda.

PSG are also aware of developments, though insist no-one, not Woodward nor anyother United official, have made formal contact. But, it isn’t business as usual in Paris. They haven’t dismissed this as idle gossip. PSG chiefs are spending today discussing how to handle any enquiry made by United.

Throwing fuel on the fire yesterday was outspoken agent Pascal Elbaz, who has close ties to PSG. Elbaz hints things aren’t as rock solid as they should be inside a club which has won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles. The expected departure of Blanc could be just the tip of the iceberg.

“The president (Nasser Al Khelaifi) would not be first in line. But he could actually be fired if it were to go wrong. The whole management team is subject to change. Olivier Letang and Nasser Al-Khelaifi are not untouchable,” warned Elbaz, speaking with Paris Team.

For United, this will be no easy deal. But if Marco Verratti is ever going to be tempted away from Paris, this moment could well be Mourinho and Zlatan’s best chance of bringing the Italian to England.

Contributed by Chris Beattie of TribalFootball.com