Manchester United's hopes of signing Sergio Reguilon are being held up by Real Madrid's insistence on a buy-back clause.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign the£27milion-rated left-back this summer.
But Madrid want to cover their backs by ensuring they have first refusal for Reguilon – at a set price.
Inserting a buy-back clause has become common practice, particularly among Spanish clubs.
However, United are understood to be unwilling to enter into such an agreement with Real.
Having signed Donny van de Beek from Ajax for £40m, Solskjaer wants to add Reguilon, with doubts over Luke Shaw's long-term reliability and fitness, while Brandon Williams is still young.
Reguilon, who spent last season on loan at Sevilla, has little chance of playing regularly for Real this season, because he is behind Ferland Mendy and Marcelo in terms of selection.
Against that backdrop, United have made clear their interest, but any hope of securing a move for the 23-year-old is being held up by Real's insistence on dictating the terms of the deal.
Real were able to re-sign Dani Carvajal, now their first-choice right-back, after insisting on a buy-back option in the deal they struck with Bayer Leverkusen.
But any such deal would negate United's ability to make any kind of profit on Reguilon, should he be a success, with Real likely to insist on a buy-back fee in the region of the figure they sell him for.
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