Manchester United have made progress in their bid to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs De Ligt, according to The Athletic.
The club has made headway in negotiations for De Ligt and Lille’s Leny Yoro, although reports suggest they’ll likely prioritise signing one.
De Ligt has been a long-standing target for United. The 24-year-old centre-back is seen as a perfect fit for manager Erik ten Hag’s system, having thrived under him at Ajax.
Talks between the clubs are progressing positively, with rumours suggesting a fee in the region of £42 million is being discussed.
The Dutch international himself is keen on a reunion with Ten Hag at Old Trafford after struggling to usurp Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano at Bayern.
The former Juventus centre-half only started 16 Bundesliga games last term, although injuries played their part in his struggles. He will be desperate to bounce back to top form in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Lille prodigy Yoro has established himself as one of the best European defensive talents.
The 18-year-old French defender impressed last season in Ligue 1 and has attracted interest from several top European clubs.
While United’s offer for the youngster has been accepted by Lille, convincing Yoro to choose Manchester over his reported preference, Real Madrid, could prove to be the stumbling block.
With Jonny Evans recently signing a short-term extension and Raphael Varane departing on a free transfer, United are under pressure to bolster their central defence.
The club seems to be hedging its bets by pursuing both De Ligt and Yoro. The coming days could see a definitive decision as United prioritises acquiring their defensive anchor for the upcoming season.
One of the impressive pair will join Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire as Ten Hag’s defensive options ahead of a pivotal season. The Red Devils are desperate to improve their abysmal eight-place Premier League finish last season.
