Manchester United have had a £42million bid for Leny Yoro accepted by Lille, according to reports in France.
United sources declined to comment on the reports, but the club are known to be pursuing a number of centre-back targets that include Jarrad Branthwaite and Matthijs de Ligt.
Yoro is understood to prefer a move to Real Madrid who are favourites to sign the 18-year-old defender, while Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are also tracking him.
However, Real have not matched the offer of £42m plus add-ons that United are reported to have made.
After holding a recruitment meeting at Carrington on the first day of pre-season on Monday, United have wasted no time pressing ahead with their transfer plans.
Manchester United have reportedly had a £42million bid for Leny Yoro accepted by Lille
United are pursuing a number of centre-back targets that include Jarrad Branthwaite (left) and Matthijs de Ligt (right)
Mail Sport revealed that an improved offer of £45m plus £5m in add-ons has been made for Branthwaite which was rejected by Everton who value the 22-year-old defender at closer to £70m. United are prepared to offer Branthwaite a long-term contract worth £160,000-a-week.
The club are also in talks with Bayern Munich over a £43m deal for De Ligt who is said to have verbally agreed personal terms over a move to Old Trafford and the opportunity to work with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.
United could sign two defenders to play on the left and right side of central defence, if they can sell players to finance the deals.
They have kept other options open throughout the process and known to admire Yoro who made 41 appearances for Lille last season.
United are also in advanced talks to sign striker Joshua Zirkzee, who has a £34m buyout clause at Bologna, and are weighing up a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
Yoro is understood to prefer a move to Real Madrid who are favourites to sign the 18-year-old
United will have to sell players to balance the books and comply with profit and sustainability rules, and Mason Greenwood could be the first player heading for the exit.
It’s believed that Greenwood is close to ending his controversial United career after Marseille made a £27m bid with the offer of a significant sell-on clause.
Greenwood held talks with United officials at Carrington on Monday but did not train with his team-mates on the first day of pre-season.
The 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Getafe, has been told he has no future at Old Trafford despite charges of attempted rape and assault against him being dropped last year.
Marseille have moved ahead of Lazio, Atletico Madrid and Valencia in the race to sign Greenwood with talks at an advanced stage.
United have made their move as Mason Greenwood’s transfer to Marseille progresses
Manager Erik ten Hag is looking to strengthen his defence ahead of the new season
Donny van de Beek is also on the verge of ending his miserable Old Trafford career with United close to finalising terms with Girona for the Dutch midfielder.
United are ready to accept a fee of £450,000 for a player who cost £35m from Ajax four years ago, although the deal would include add-ons up to £16m as well as a sell-on clause.