Manchester United’s desire to strengthen at centre-back has just hit another blow with a £50m target agreeing to a move elsewhere.
Ineos must be getting frustrated this summer with every target proving too expensive or having their eyes set on different destinations.
We’ve already seen Jarrad Branthwaite prove too expensive with Everton unwilling to find a compromise over a deal or to drop from their £70m valuation.
Along with this, a move for Jean-Clair Todibo has been ruled illegal by UEFA considering Ineos owns both Manchester United and Nice.
Due to this new targets are being prioritised but now it seems United are about to miss out on another target.
Leny Yoro agrees to Real Madrid move
One defensive target who fans would’ve loved Manchester United to sign this summer is Lille’s Leny Yoro, however, there was always a feeling this move would be tricky to complete.
This is because the 19-year-old Frenchman was believed to always favour a move to join Real Madrid, and that is exactly what seems to be happening.
According to a report from the French outlet, Sports Zone, Yoro has now reached an agreement with Los Blancos.
It’s then added that the teenager only wanted Madrid and he may even wait a year to complete his move in the case that the Champions League winners can’t make a move this summer, with his £50m price tag likely to cause some problems.
It is mentioned that United, Liverpool and Bayern are still pushing in the hopes that Yoro changes his mind, although that looks rather unlikely.
Yoro choosing Real Madrid cannot be a shock for Manchester United
Losing out on another top target is a blow for United, but it’s hardly a surprise considering Yoro has always been reported to want a Madrid move which is seen as his dream.
He’ll be playing with several of his future French international teammates there and has the chance to follow in the footsteps of Raphael Varane, who Madrid views him to be a regen of.
If Ineos are switched on they’ll have seen this coming and still have several options to recruit this summer.
Names such as Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna and Goncalo Inacio of Sporting Lisbon are still available and would be excellent additions.
It’s time for Ineos to get a move on though with pre-season only a couple of weeks away.