Lille defender Leny Yoro makes feelings clear as Man United reach £42 million agreement

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that Lille have accepted an offer from Manchester United for highly-rated defender Leny Yoro.

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are understood to be in the hunt for a new first choice at centre-back at Old Trafford following Raphael Varane’s departure from Old Trafford.

United have seen two bids for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite turned down and have held talks with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs De Ligt.

Lille defender Leny Yoro had always been of interest to the Red Devils but the club had never made a move for the teenager but they now have shown their hand.

Manchester United agree Yoro fee

Sources have told HITC that Lille have agreed a deal in principle with United which would see Yoro move to Old Trafford, intermediaries are understood to have put the package together and it is worth around £42 million.

However, in other transfers an agreement with the club may well be the final hurdle to overcome before getting the deal over the line, but this is not the case for Yoro.

Sources have told HITC that whilst United have agreed a deal with Lille for the signing of Yoro, the Frenchman has not, as of yet, shown any willingness to discuss a move to Old Trafford as his priority remains a move to the European champions Real Madrid.

We had reported back in May that Liverpool were working hard on getting a deal over the line but the defender’s preference is the Santiago Bernabeu and that is understood to remain the case.

European sides hatch plan for Yoro

Madrid are understood to have put an offer on the table for Yoro but it is less than half what the Red Devils have put forward for the teenager as they feel his value is limited given he is out-of-contract in 12-months.

Sources have also told HITC that the European champions will not go any higher in their attempts to land the defender as his preference is the Spanish capital.

However, if Yoro was to show any willingness to move to Old Trafford, sources have told HITC that Liverpool and French champions Paris Saint-Germain would match any offer made by the Red Devils for the Frenchman.