Manchester United target Marco Verratti set to sign new five-year PSG deal worth £9m-a-year

MANCHESTER UNITED look likely to miss out on the signing of PSG midfielder Marco Verratti.

But it’s not because another club has jumped ahead in the queue.

Marco Verratti is set to sign a new five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain in a bitter blow to Manchester United

Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport are reporting that the 25-year-old is set to sign a new five-year deal with the French champs.

It will apparently be worth £9million a year, and will extend his ties to the club until 2023.

Verratti joined PSG in the summer of 2012, and has won five Ligue 1 titles at the club.

He has been compared to Barcelona legend Xavi in the way that he controls games in central midfield after arriving in the French capital from Italian side Pescara.

Marco Verratti helped PSG to the French league title last season – and it was all a stroll in the park at times

Jose Mourinho looks like he will have to switch his attentions elsewhere in his search for another central midfielder

But he was the subject of intense transfer rumour as soon as the French season finished, and Old Trafford seemed a likely destination.

SunSport reported how Jose Mourinho was considering a £75m bid for the Italian international.

Juventus were also believed to be ready to compete for his signature but Red Devils manager Mourinho would have been able to offer better personal terms at Old Trafford.

Mourinho wanted TWO central midfielders as Marouane Fellaini, 30, is expected to leave on a free and 36-year-old club legend Michael Carrick has retired.

He bagged Fred in a £52m swoop and has also looked at Serbian star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

But Lazio have increased the £80m asking price United were willing to pay, meaning attentions were switched to Verratti.

But his new French deal looks to have scuppered the Red Devil’s plan of forming a dream centre midfield.