Roma are in negotiations to sign 18-year-old defender Marquinhos from Corinthians, according to Corriere dello Sport.
The teenager, who has already debuted in both the Paulista state championship and Brasileiro, has been identified by The Giallorossi as a potential addition to bolster their defensive ranks following the departures of experienced duo Gabriel Heinze and Juan.
Marquinhos possesses an EU passport and will thus fit in with the club’s allocated quota of foreigners, but potential difficulties in finalising a deal may arise via third-party involvement in the player’s economic rights.
The teenager could complete a trio of former Timao players to make the switch to Roma during the current transfer window, following in the footsteps of Dodo and Leandro Castan.
While the 18-year-old is the first choice of Zdenek Zeman, the report also suggests that the Giallorossi could turn their attentions to his team-mate Antonio Carlos should they fail to strike a deal.