News sources say that Manchester United is now ahead of Real Madrid in the race to sign Lille center back Leny Yoro during the summer transfer window.

After a poor eighth-place finish in the Premier League last year, Erik ten Hag wants to improve his defense by signing a couple of new center-backs this summer.

Matthijs de Ligt, a center back for Bayern Munich, is one of their top targets after they agreed to personal terms with the Netherlands international. However, Manchester United have not yet agreed to a deal with the Bundesliga team.

During the summer transfer window, Yoro wanted to move to Real Madrid instead of Manchester United. He was even said to be ready to wait until next year if that was what it took.

United now wants to sign Yoro, an 18-year-old player at Lille, and the French team has accepted their offer.

At first, it looked like Real Madrid was the favorite to sign the young center back, but the La Liga giants have not come close to Man United’s offer price.

Last week, Nabil Djellit, a French writer, wrote on X, “Word: Manchester United has made a written offer of 50M € and bonuses for Lenny Yoro.” Lille has agreed. It is certainly better than Real Madrid’s offer, but the deal is still not official. Real Madrid is still the player’s top goal, but Manchester United is pushing #Mercato.

On Tuesday, Djellit reported that Manchester United is now talking about a salary with the player. The reporter also said that Real Madrid is “behind” in the race.

Djellit also said, “Info (continued). Lille agreed to the offer of 50 + 12 (€62M, £52M). Leny #Yoro is in talks with Manchester United about his pay. Good news for United and an open door for them. Real still there, but behind. “#Market.”

United and Lille have agreed to a deal worth €62 million, but Real Madrid is only willing to offer €20 million at this point.

A story from yesterday said that Yoro thought Manchester United’s interest in him was “significant,” and that Ten Hag’s interest in the 18-year-old had “touched him.”

That is because Real Madrid is not ready to spend a lot of money on Yoro this summer. It looks like Manchester United’s persistence is paying off.

The defender and his agents are now talking about how to make the possible move work for both of them.

Real Madrid is still in the running, but Manchester United is now ahead of them in the race for Yoro.

United has put off talks to sign Matthijs de Ligt and is now focusing on making a move for the young French player.

People might call it the coup of the summer if they could get a deal done.