English Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal are being linked as Italian side AS Roma invite offers for defender Philippe Mexes.
Local British newspapers have reported that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are both long-term admirers of the French centre-back, who is desperate to leave AS Roma.
However Roma have privately said that they will not let the 27-year-old centre back leave for less than £18m, far more than either Premier League side would be willing to pay.
United are short of cover at centre-back, while William Gallas’s contract at the Emirates Stadium expires at the end of the campaign.
Mexes would be available for the Champions League but with his wage demands expected to be in excess of £75,000 a week, there would have to be a financial compromise for any deal to happen.