Following the unfortunate injury update that new Manchester United signing Leny Yoro is facing three months on the sidelines through injury, INEOS are reportedly set to go back into the market for another centre-back.
United chiefs had been expected to add another central defender to Erik ten Hag’s backline beyond Yoro, with Matthijs de Ligt and Jarrad Branthwaite strongly linked, but the 18-year-old's injury has exasperated the need for further investment.
With Victor Lindelof expected to depart and follow Raphael Varane out the door, Ten Hag could be left with just Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans for the opening few Premier League matches - three players that come with their own fitness concerns.
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The Telegraph claim that United could be forced to accelerate plans for a centre-back to become their third signing after Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, having initially put that plan on the backburner while focusing on outgoings.
But United already have an agreement with De Ligt over personal terms that could ease negotiations with Bayern Munich and ensure that another signing is through the door imminently, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The Bundesliga giants are said to want £42million for the Netherlands defender, who Ten Hag worked with at Ajax, in addition to Bayern’s right-back Noussair Mazraoui as a potential replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Wan-Bissaka is thought to be closing in on a £15m move to West Ham, with United already agreeing a £21m fee for the Moroccan versatile full-back.
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Already in advanced negotiations with Bayern for Mazraoui and having agreed personal terms with De Ligt, should United opt to they can seal up a deal for the 24-year-old quickly in order to get him up to speed in pre-season.
De Ligt is thought to be out of favour with Vincent Kompany, the former Burnley boss preferring the likes of Kim Min-jae, Dayot Upamecano, Eric Dier and Hiroki Ito instead, though the latter faces three months out injured.
In June, Ten Hag outlined the need for another centre-back alongside a new midfielder and forward and with Yoro set to miss the start of the season, plans are already in motion for De Ligt to head through the Old Trafford doors.
“We need to get a striker in to work alongside Rasmus Hojlund,” Ten Hag said in his public message to INEOS. “I also hope we manage to get another central midfielder and also a replacement for Varane.
“Then I think things will look very good for next season - with the caveat that the players are fit and stay fit. Then you can start playing towards the top four with such an 11. That gives me hope and is also realistic in my eyes.”
