Real Madrid target new defender as alternative to Leny Yoro following Man Utd bid

Real Madrid will consider a move for former defender Mario Gila if they are unable to sign Leny Yoro, who has an offer on the table from Manchester United, a report has claimed.

Yoro, who will turn 19 later this year, is coming off the back of a tremendous breakout year with Ligue 1 side Lille, and he is not short of suitors.

Madrid's interest in the centre-back became quite public earlier this summer, but they are struggling to meet Lille's €50m asking price. This has not been a problem for United, who had a bid in that region accepted this week, but Yoro is holding out for a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

AS report that Madrid want to sign a new centre-back this summer to replace outgoing club captain Nacho Fernandez. They believe Yoro could wait until the end of his current Lille contract in 2025 and move to the Spanish capital on a free transfer, spurning United's advances in the process, but that doesn't solve their shortage of defenders heading into the coming season.

As such, those upstairs at Madrid are contemplating a move for Gila, who left for Lazio back in 2022 having only made two senior appearances for Los Blancos. However, Madrid retain 50% of Gila's rights from their €6m sale and so bringing him back could be a fairly straightforward and lucrative task even if Lazio play hardball over a fee.

Madrid are not the only team looking at Gila though, with Inter, Juventus, and Bayer Leverkusen all monitoring him.

23-year-old Gila is regarded as one of the quickest defenders in Serie A and impressed in Lazio's run to the last 16 of last season's Champions League. Should he return to Madrid, he would count toward the club's homegrown quota.

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