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Marseille have edged ahead of PSV Eindhoven in the battle to land young Manchester City defender Karim Rekik.

The Blues are willing to sell the centre-back following his loan period in Holland with PSV Eindhoven.

Jason Denayer, who has returned to City following his own loan at Celtic, has jumped ahead of him in the pecking order and is tipped for a first-team squad place next season.

PSV are keen to take Rekik, who last season helped them to the Dutch league title, on a permanent basis.

But City still rate him highly and want around £3.5m - and a buy-back clause.

PSV had fancied their chances of landing him but Marseille have agreed personal terms with the player according to reports in the French media.

They are said to be preparing an offer to City.

Rekik is the youngest foreign player ever to play in the City first team, making his debut at the age of 16 years and 283 days.

He was initially expected to return to City this summer to push for a place in the first-team squad along with fellow loanees Rony Lopes and Denayer.

But 19-year-old Denayer has stepped ahead of him after a fine season with Celtic and after establishing himself as a Belgium international.

It now seems certain that Denayer will become the Blues’ fourth central defender with Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala, replacing Dedryck Boyata, who has headed in the opposite direction to Celtic in a permanent deal.

See who City fans want the Blues to sign this summer below