Manchester United have launched a £32.5 million bid for Roma centre-back Kostas Manolas, according to reports.

The Sun claim that Jose Mourinho has turned his attention to the Greece international as United’s move for Benfica’s Victor Lindelof has stalled.

But Roma are reluctant to offload the 25-year-old, meaning that United could pay even more to land a defender in January.

Manolas has been a regular for Roma this season, playing in all but three of the club’s Serie A fixtures so far.

Last September, Manolas’ agent revealed that United were among the clubs monitoring the defender’s performances in Italy.

Meanwhile, reports in Portugal have claimed that United still have a £38m deal in place for Lindelof, who has been left out of Benfica’s last two match-day squads.

But sources close to the deal also told that United will not be signing the Sweden international in January as Mourinho has been impressed with the performances of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones.

Manolas, being a 6ft 1in centre-back, is a rock in all aspects of defence.

He has speed, strength and is assured on the ball.

United fans may see some of hardman Nemanja Vidic in him should he join Old Trafford, for in his first AEK Athens game he scored against Olympiakos while playing with a broken cheekbone!

It is that bashfulness and aggression which has already seen the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal linked with him in the past.

Manolas has been prone to rare lapses in concentration, most noticeably a poor headed backpass last season against Hellas Verona which allowed Bosko Jankovic to score.