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Leicester City’s defensive recruitment drive continues with the pursuit of Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Marlon, according to reports.

City have announced a deal for Portugal right-back Ricardo Pereira, while they’re also closing in on West Brom’s Jonny Evans.

But further defensive reinforcements are wanted at City, the Sun on Sunday have reported, with 22-year-old Marlon catching the eye.

The Brazilian youth international, a runner-up at the Under-20 World Cup in 2015, is halfway through a two-year loan spell at Claude Puel’s former club Nice, who he helped to finish eighth in Ligue 1 and reach the first knockout round of the Europa League this season.

Nice have an option to buy Marlon at the end of his loan, but City could reportedly step in this window with an £18m bid.

City are currently one centre-back down with Robert Huth to leave the club as a free agent this summer.

Aleksandar Dragovic’s City future is also up in the air. The Austrian’s loan spell has concluded but City may try to negotiate a permanent deal with his parent club Bayer Leverkusen.