Manchester United are close to seeing off competition from Real Madrid to seal a £52.1 million ($67.9m) deal for Leny Yoro after the Lille defender was granted permission to travel to Old Trafford for a medical, sources have told ESPN.
United, who completed the signing of Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £35.8m ($46.7m) earlier this week, have moved ahead of Madrid in the race for Yoro, with sources telling ESPN that the Champions League winners have opted not to engage in a bidding war with the Premier League club for the centre-back.
Yoro, 18, had favoured a move to Madrid and had initially been resistant to a move to United but the English club have now made a breakthrough in negotiations with Lille and the player.
Lille, who finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season to seal a place in the 2024-25 Champions League third qualifying round, have accepted United's offer and Yoro is now travelling to Manchester to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
However, sources have told ESPN that while Yoro's willingness to travel to Manchester shows the player is open to a move to Old Trafford, there is still work to be done to seal the deal, despite Madrid's reluctance to pursue a transfer at the same level as United's offer.
France Under-21 international Yoro is regarded as one of Europe's brightest young defensive talents after becoming a regular in Lille's first-team after making his senior debut as a 16-year-old at the end of the 2021-22 season.
United are targeting young talent this summer as the club's new football board, led by INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, looks to rebuild Erik ten Hag's squad with players who have potential and the ability to increase their value in the team.
The pursuit of Yoro and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt is also likely to lead to a number of defensive departures from Old Trafford this summer, with United willing to listen to offers for Victor Lindelöf, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Former French international Raphael Varane has already left the club after his contract expired last month.
ESPN's Rodrigo Faez contributed to this report.
