Defender set to be sold by Manchester United for huge profit

Manchester United defender Willy Kambwala is set to be sold to Villarreal for a rising fee.

Kambwala, 19, is understood to have been reluctant to leave until he was informed by manager Erik ten Hag he would be way down the pecking order of centre backs.

The Frenchman's sale would represent a pure profit for United as Kambwala is a homegrown product. He joined the club from Sochaux for €4m at the age of 16 in October 2020 and his contract expires next year.

Kambwala received an improved squad number on his return to pre-season training this week but Villarreal's generous bid has convinced United to cash in.

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United are also open to signing three centre backs this summer. Everton have rejected two bids from the club for Jarrad Branthwaite, Lille accepted an offer of around €65m for Leny Yoro while United have a verbal agreement for personal terms with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt.

Jonny Evans signed a new one-year contract on Friday but the club are planning to sell Victor Lindelof as he is out of contract next year.

Ten Hag had no plans to use Kambwala until United's defence was decimated by injuries last season. Ten Hag said to a confidant that if he was told during pre-season that Kambwala would play under him he would have called them "crazy".

Kambwala made his debut in the 2-0 defeat away to West Ham in December and started two more games in the draws with Liverpool and Bournemouth.

The centre half played ten games overall and received an FA Cup final winner's medal as he was a late addition to the bench at the expense of Casemiro, who withdrew.