Real Madrid have reportedly identified an alternative centre-back to Lille's Leny Yoro should their pursuit of the French teenager end in failure.
Regarded as one of the most promising centre-backs in European football, 18-year-old Yoro has been expected to make the move to the Bernabeu for a number of weeks now.
The Frenchman is thought to have his heart set on representing the 15-time European champions, but Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are providing stiff competition.
Despite Yoro's reported desire to make the move to Madrid, Lille have supposedly accepted an offer in excess of €50m (£42.1m) from Man United for a player who is now in the last year of his contract.
However, Yoro is yet to give the green light to joining the Red Devils, even though Lille are doing their utmost to convince him to snub Real Madrid and advance his career with Erik ten Hag's team.
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Real Madrid to move for Lazio man as Yoro alternative?
Yoro recently called out a fake X account posing as him, which posted "I don't want you @ManUtd. Leave me alone", but the 18-year-old is still not thought to have made his final decision yet.
According to FCBN, Real Madrid have failed to match Man United's opening offer for Yoro - submitting a bid of just €35m (£29.5m) - and they have now made contingency plans in case their efforts prove fruitless.
Lazio's Mario Gila is thought to be Los Blancos' backup option, and the 23-year-old is already familiar to Real Madrid, as he spent four seasons in their Castilla setup from 2018 to 2022.
Gila played twice for the Real Madrid first team in the 2021-22 season before being sold to Lazio for just €6m (£5.1m), but he was restricted to just 12 appearances in his debut campaign with the Biancocelesti.
The 23-year-old also started the 2023-24 season on the bench, but he quickly earned the trust of former manager Maurizio Sarri and ended the season with 29 appearances to his name across all tournaments.
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Gila started both legs of Lazio's last-16 Champions League clash with Bayern Munich - helping his side keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 first-leg success - while also featuring from the off in 21 Serie A contests.
The defender's contract still has another three years left to run, and Real Madrid will apparently have to do battle with Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan and Juventus to prise him away from Lazio.
Could Liverpool, PSG still make a move for Yoro?
While news of Real Madrid drawing up a defensive plan B spells good news for Man United, their road to signing Yoro will not be without its obstacles even if Los Blancos do pull out of the running.
PSG are believed to be ready and waiting to pounce if the opportunity to sign Yoro presents itself, while Liverpool have also taken a serious liking to the 2005-born starlet, who could be a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.
However, signing a new centre-back is not thought to be top of the Reds' priorities right now, as they are working to agree new contracts with Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Ben Knapton
