Man Utd close with the first signing of the Ruben Amorim era

Manchester United are closing in signing Paraguayan teenage defender Diego Leon – the first acquisition of the Ruben Amorim era.

The 17-year-old was pictured on social media preparing to leave South America for Manchester, where he will undergo a medical before putting pen to paper on a long-term deal.

Leon’s transfer is expected to pocket around £6m for current employers Cerro Porten multiple reports suggesting he could return to Paraguay on loan until the end of the season.

A left-back, Leon is not expected to immediately challenge for a prominent first-team role at Amor, but provides long-term cover for a position the Portuguese coach is known to want to strengthen.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes continues to be linked with a big-money move to United, having previously worked with Amorim during his time at Sporting CP, as Amorim looks for a player capable of bombing forward from the left wing.

Diogo Dalot was filled in as a temporary measure although he is best suited to play on the right. Luke Shaw, meanwhile, continues to struggle with injuries and Tyrell Malacia is still returning after a long absence of his own.

There are also expected departures at Old Trafford this month. Marcus Rashford could be the most notable departure after falling out of favor and could be joined by Joshua Zirkzee, who has failed to settle on United following a £34m summer move from Bologna.

Rashford could go to Italywhere AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli want him, while Zirkzee is the primary target for Juve – there was talk of a contract swap whereby Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović would go in the opposite direction.

As for Leon, he has been called up to Paraguay for the upcoming South American Under-20 Championship in Venezuela, after making his first-team debut for Cerro Porteno last August.

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