Manchester United are set to beat Real Madrid to the signing of 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro from Lille following Raphael Varane's 2011 move. to transfer saga.
Varane, who grew up in Lille but played for neighboring Lens, was snapped up by Sir Alex Ferguson after Zinedine Zidane, then 'special adviser' at the Bernabeu, lured the defender to the Spanish capital.
This time, despite Yoro's initial doubts about Madrid's long-term interest, a deal is nearing completion now that he has agreed personal terms and a two-part medical is underway in Manchester.
In the end, United's willingness to pay what Lille wanted, and the opposite of Madrid, is what decided this transfer race so quickly.
Lille allowing Yoro to leave is a product of the fact that the youngster will be out of contract next year and is not willing to sign a new one as he looks to the next level in his career.
Perhaps he hoped he was interested in joining them, as was the case with Kylian Mbappe to a large extent this summer, Madrid's strategy was to wait and take him as a free agent in 2025, which Lille understandably did not do. I want, or lowball it to make a deal this summer instead, which Lille understandably did not want.
United took advantage of the situation when they made a £42m, rising to £52m, offer. When Yoro decided, not until Tuesday evening, that it was something he was interested in, he was on a flight to England the next morning.
Fabrizio Romano reported that Madrid was informed of that development. But, surprisingly or not, it didn't change their position. Without waiting until 2025 and free agency, the most the club seemed willing to pay this year was €25m (£16.8m), less than a third of what Lille will end up getting now. It is clear why the French club were so ready to accept United's offer and why they wanted Yoro to agree to it given the alternative.
At Madrid, signing Mbappe has not been easy due to the nine-figure signing bonus in his contract. Endrick's transfer fee from Palmeiras starts at €35m and could reach €60m. It's only been a year since Jude Bellingham brought in a total of 134 million euros from Borussia Dortmund. On that basis, it would be easy to assume that there is no unlimited flow of money on tap at the Bernabeu.
The club rarely spends anything on full backs due to a combination of factors. Eder Militao cost €50 million from Porto in 2019, but his transfer is the only time since 2011 that Madrid have paid for a player in that part of the field.
The longevity of Sergio Ramos, who was recruited in 2005, 16 years is one of the reasons. Raphael Varane, the last centre-back before the expensive Militao, likewise ten seasons is one. Madrid also played the free agency market smartly, acquiring both Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba that way.
At that time, Nacho Fernandez was home grown and the club really didn't need anyone else.
With 34-year-old Nacho moving to the Saudi Pro League this summer, it was Yoro that the European champions wanted to round out their full-back squad. That fourth role will now go to Jesus Vallejo, who has returned from another loan, although a possible injury to Alaba has caused a problem. Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni filled in at the back if needed in emergencies.
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