Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make their first formal offer for Issa Diop.
Last month, it was claimed that United had made a player-plus-cash offer to West Ham United for the centre-back, who arrived at the London Stadium from Toulouse last summer.
According to L'Equipe, there has not actually been an official bid from the Red Devils thus far, but the club are currently preparing to put a £45m offer on the table for the 21-year-old.
Diop, who has four years left to run on his contract with the Hammers, scored once in 33 Premier League appearances during the 2018-19 campaign.
The France Under-21 international could represent a cheaper option than Harry Maguire, with Leicester City said to want £90m for the England international.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have already completed deals for Welsh attacker Daniel James and English full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka in this summer's transfer window.
Matt Law
