MANCHESTER UNITED are facing fierce competition from Inter Milan for Roma star Kostas Manolas.

SunSport revealed United boss Jose Mourinho is willing to spend close to £50million on the Greek international.

4 Kostas Manolas is now a target for both Manchester United and Inter Milan Credit: Getty Images

But Italian website Calcio Mercato says Inter are also looking at making a bid for the highly rated defender as several members of the back line look set to leave the San Siro in the summer.

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Andrea Ranocchia, Jeison Murillo and Miranda are expected to exit the Italian giants at the end of the season.

The Manchester United manager has said he does not intend to buy another defender but behind the scenes is still working on a deal for the Greek international.

That came after talks with Victor Lindelof hit a wall – despite Benfica and Vasteras recently agreeing a sell-on fee.

4 Kostas Manolas has impressed since joining Roma in 2014 Credit: Getty Images

4 Roma have slapped a £52million price tag on Kostas Manolas Credit: Getty Images

4 Kostas Manolas was the subject of a huge bid from Manchester United Credit: Corbis

And last May, when Mourinho started looking at which players he would like to sign, he paid special attention to Manolas and team-mate Alessandro Florenzi.

But Roma - who currently sit just four points behind Serie A leaders Juventus - are reluctant to lose one of their most sought-after assets.

And they have slapped a massive £52million price-tag on Manolas.