Man Utd have £42m bid accepted to complete first summer signing | Football

Erik ten Hag is keen to recruit at least one new central defender before the start of the new Premier League season and United have been working hard to make that happen.

Two bids for Jarrad Branthwaite, the latest of which was £45 million plus a further £5m in add-ons, have been rejected by Everton, who are holding out for United to reach a fee closer to £70m.

United are also working on the signing of Matthijs de Ligt, who has indicated that he is open to a move to United but Bayern Munich are demanding €50m (£42.2m).

Yoro is also on United’s shortlist though they face stronger competition for the 18-year-old due to interest from Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, while United’s offer is considered ‘superior’ to Madrid’s, Yoro’s preference is to join the Champions League holders this summer.

Reports in Spain from Madrid-based newspaper Marca have claimed that United had made a fresh approach last week but were told that Yoro is holding out for Madrid to reach an agreement with Lille.

Madrid have still to agree a transfer fee with Lille but the Spanish champions are only willing to go up to €40m (£33.7m) plus add-ons for the highly rated France Under-21 international.

Speaking in March, Thierry Henry, who coaches France’s Under-21s and will manage the national team at this summer’s Olympics in Paris, said of Yoro: ‘We often talk about Leny.

‘He is having an exemplary start to his career. To establish himself in Lille as he is doing.

‘He always has some young reactions, and that is completely normal. It comes slowly. You make mistakes and sometimes you get embarrassed.

‘[But] he goes on to play one match after another, he starts quite often and quite often is good. It’s really good for him. He is professional. He’s a good guy, well educated.

‘I like him. He performs well. Afterwards, there are always things to refine, but that’s completely normal. Frankly, it’s really a more than positive progression.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.