Manchester United should rival Manchester City for Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte, according to Gary Neville.
Sources have told ESPN FC Laporte could move to the Etihad Stadium before next week's transfer deadline.
Neville got a close look at Laporte during his spell as Valencia manager and the former United defender believes Jose Mourinho should challenge City for the 23-year-old's signature.
In my very short time in Spain we played them 3 times ! This lad can play! Get in United ... 😂 https://t.co/p3Bcqol4lH
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) 23 January 2018
He tweeted: "In my very short time in Spain we played them three times. This lad can play. Get in United.
"It's really hard to get players out of Bilbao and costly but this lad is a very good player."
Valencia met Athletic Club in La Liga and the Europa League during Neville's time in Spain, winning once and losing twice.
United have experience in dealing with Laporte's club after signing Ander Herrera in 2014. It proved a difficult transfer to complete with United forced to walk away from a deal in 2013, before finally signing the midfielder 12 months later.
Laporte was pictured training with his teammates on Wednesday morning at the San Mames stadium amid reports in Spain he is on the verge of joining Manchester City.
Bilbao-based El Correo newspaper posted a photograph of the centre-back taking part in his team's morning session but claim a deal between the two clubs, which has been negotiated in the last 48 hours, is all but done.
Athletic are reportedly waiting to receive Laporte's release clause of €65 million from City before announcing the Frenchman's departure. City will also have to pay a further €5m for development rights.
A youth product of Athletic, Laporte, under contract with the Basque outfit until June 2020, has started in 19 league games this season.
When contacted by ESPN FC, Athletic did not confirm the deal while winger Markel Susaeta said in Wednesday's news conference: "The only thing I know is that Aymeric has been preparing for the game against Eibar like the rest of us. Aymeric has come to train like any other day. Today hasn't been any different. If the player of the qualify of Aymeric leaves, of course it would affect us.
"Aymeric is an important player on and off the pitch but it's his decision. Any player is free to do what they want."
Information from Adriana Garcia was also used in this report.