Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has confirmed the rumours suggesting that the Spanish club could be set for an official offer for PSG defender Thiago Silva by stating that the Brazilian is someone who interests him a lot.

Barcelona are in the market for a new defender because they believe that captain and centre back Carlos Puyol cannot play at the highest level after a few years. They have had a long-standing interest in Chelsea's defender David Luiz, but it looks like they will not be able to get the enigmatic Brazilian to the camp Nou.

Hence, they have shifted their attention to Thiago Silva, who has gained a reputation as the best defender in the world right now. The former AC Milan man also holds the record for the highest transfer fee paid for the defender, which stands at £ 35 million. The defender's agent recently stated that his client will be open to offers from a club like Barcelona. PSG, though, where quick to dismiss any rumours linking the 28-year-old with a move away from the French capital. PSG have just won the domestic league after 19 years and they are intent on making further progress in the Champions League in the coming season.

They made it into the quarter-finals under the regime of Carlo Ancelotti.

"The intention is to find a centre-back. I would like him [Thiago Silva] to come, but I have not given just one name. We want to sign a centre-back. We already talked in November and February [about replacements]. [Seydou] Keita left and Song had to come. We thought he could fill the gap and did not count on the possibility of having so many injuries and so much bad luck. We will bring in a central defender, for sure," said Vilanova in a recent press conference.