Manchester United 'prepared to pay £23m for Benoit Badiashile'

Manchester United are reportedly willing to fork out a fee of £23m to land highly-rated Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are still believed to be in the running to sign RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano, but the Red Devils will be forced to wait until next year before they can attempt to land the Frenchman.

As a result, United are reportedly seeking out alternatives to the RB Leipzig man as they look to shore up their defence during the 2020-21 campaign.

According to L'Equipe, the Red Devils are ready to fork out a sizeable sum of £23m for 19-year-old Badiashile, who already has two goals to his name from two matches in this season's French top flight.

Monaco vice-president Oleg Petrov recently confirmed that the Ligue 1 outfit have received expressions of interest in Badiashile, but Monaco are determined to keep hold of the teenager, who has formed a centre-back partnership with another young defender in Axel Disasi at Les Monegasques.

In order to raise funds for any future business, United are reportedly hoping to offload out-of-favour defenders Diogo Dalot and Marcos Rojo before the transfer window closes.

Bayer Leverkusen are also said to be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding the future of Badiashile.