Every day that passes seems to indicate Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos are heading for a divorce. The player, who has become an icon of the team, is likely to leave this summer and get paid handsomely at some other club.

That means that his team will need to find a quick replacement. Nicolas Otamendi has been mentioned time and again, but another potential player that is being mentioned is Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain.

Is he a better option than either player?

Marquinhos' biggest asset is his age. He is only 21, putting him in the same age range as Raphael Varane. This could help coach Rafa Benitez as he has an opportunity to develop a tandem that could last years to come, providing the team with defensive stability.

Defensively, Marquinhos averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the Ligue 1; Ramos had 1.7 in Spain. Marquinhos had two interceptions per game, 3.4 clearances per game and 0.5 blocks per game. Ramos averaged 3.9 clearances per game, 2.4 interceptions per game and blocked 0.8 shots per game.

Offensively, Ramos scored five goals in Spain while Marquinhos only put in two in 25 appearances. The other statistics lend further support for the notion that Ramos is miles ahead of the young Brazilian offensively.

That said, Ramos is a finished product. At age 29 he is unlikely to improve that much more than he currently is. Of course, his current form makes him one of the best defenders in the world and losing him to a young kid who still has a lot of growing pains to go through would be an immediate downgrade.

That said, Marquinhos could wind up blossoming under Benitez, who is known for being great with defenders.

Moreover, if Madrid takes the risk, Marquinhos could be paying major returns in two or three years when Ramos would be in decline and causing headaches. It is not as if in bringing the young Brazilian, the team would not be getting quality. It would simply be a slight step down from what it is used to.

Should Madrid pursue Marquinhos? Or is Otamendi a better option?