Manchester United dealt transfer blow after Aymeric Laporte agrees to jo...

Louis van Gaal has suffered a transfer blow after being beaten to one of their top defensive targets.

Athletic Bilbao's French under-21 defender Aymeric Laporte will join Barcelona next summer in a deal worth around £35m.

That is a big blow for Manchester United boss Van Gaal as the club's scouts were tracking him as a potential centre half for the future.

United are still trying to sign a new centre half or top quality after missing out on Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos last summer.They are currently using Chris Smalling and Daley Blind as their first choice pairing and it is an area they are desperate to strengthen.

Laporte, 21, is regarded as one of the best young defensive prospects in Europe and has been watched by a host of top clubs.

Barcelona have been under a transfer embargo but it is understood they are eyeing players for next summer and believe they will get Laporte.