Manchester United are set to beat Real Madrid to sign Lille defender Lenny Yolo for 52.1 million pounds ($67.9 million) after the player has been cleared to travel to Old Trafford for a medical, sources told ESPN.
United, who signed Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £35.8 million ($46.7 million) earlier this week, are leading Madrid in the race to sign Yolo, but sources have told ESPN that the Champions League winners have opted not to enter a battle with Premier League clubs for the centre-back.
The 18-year-old wanted a move to Madrid and initially resisted a move to United, but the English club made a breakthrough in negotiations with Lille for Yolo.
According to ESPN's sources, Yolo informed Madrid of his intention to move to United on Tuesday night after Spanish clubs failed to sign him.
As ESPN reports, Madrid had been in contact with Yolo for months but had never made a concrete contract offer. The club had made him one of its priority targets to bolster its defense following the departure of Nacho, but sources have consistently insisted to ESPN that they would not get involved in a bidding war for him.
Indeed, Madrid were optimistic as Yolo had wanted a move to the club but were unwilling to match the price United were offering for a player who would be available on a free transfer in just 12 months.
Lille, who finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and qualified for the third qualifying round of the 2024-25 Champions League, have accepted United's offer and Yolo is currently travelling to Manchester to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
However, sources told ESPN that Yolo's readiness to move to Manchester indicates he is open to a move to Old Trafford, but that there is still work to be done to get the deal done with Madrid reluctant to pursue a move at the same level as United's offer.
The France Under-21 international is regarded as one of the most talented young defenders in Europe after becoming a first-team regular at Lille, making his first-team 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 committee, led by Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, looks to rebuild Erik ten Hag's squad with players who have both the potential and the ability to add value within the squad.
The move to sign Yolo and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt is likely to lead to a number of defenders leaving Old Trafford this summer, with United prepared to consider bids for Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Former France international Raphael Varane already left the club when his contract expired last month.
ESPN's Rodrigo Faez also provided input into this report.
