Villarreal central defender Eric Bailly is set to be Jose Mourinho's first signing as Manchester United manager.
Bailly is due to have a medical this week and terms are thought to have been agreed with the 22-year-old, who will cost the Red Devils about £30m.
He has played 40 times in La Liga, the first five of which were for Espanyol.
The 22-year-old, whom Villarreal bought for £4.4m in January 2015, played in every game as Ivory Coast won the African Nations Cup last year.
It had been thought Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be Mourinho's first signing since the Portuguese succeeded Louis van Gaal as United manager.
The Sweden striker, 34, is a free agent after leaving Paris St-Germain and hinted at the weekend he would make an announcement about his future on Tuesday.
But he has refused to elaborate on his future, saying: "There is no confirmation. Keep wondering. I am enjoying the stories."
Bailly is due to have a medical this week and terms are thought to have been agreed with the 22-year-old, who will cost the Red Devils about £30m.
He has played 40 times in La Liga, the first five of which were for Espanyol.
The 22-year-old, whom Villarreal bought for £4.4m in January 2015, played in every game as Ivory Coast won the African Nations Cup last year.
It had been thought Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be Mourinho's first signing since the Portuguese succeeded Louis van Gaal as United manager.
The Sweden striker, 34, is a free agent after leaving Paris St-Germain and hinted at the weekend he would make an announcement about his future on Tuesday.
But he has refused to elaborate on his future, saying: "There is no confirmation. Keep wondering. I am enjoying the stories."
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