Manchester United are making progress in their pursuit of Lille defender Leny Yoro, with sources indicating that the club has agreed to a fee of 62 million euros (£52.06 million) for the youngster. Yoro, who is just 18 years old, is set to travel to Manchester for a medical examination. Despite his young age, he has already garnered significant interest from top European clubs, with Real Madrid being one of the teams linked to him.
Yoro made his debut for Lille at the age of 16 and was even included in Thierry Henry’s provisional France squad for the Olympic Games. However, he was ultimately left out of the final squad due to Lille’s involvement in the Champions League qualification rounds. His arrival at Manchester United would provide some much-needed clarity to the team’s central defensive options.
In addition to pursuing Yoro, Manchester United have also been in talks with Everton for Jarrad Branthwaite. However, the club’s bids for the young defender have been rejected by Everton, who value him at over £75 million. Negotiations with Bayern Munich for Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt are also ongoing. While Manchester United remain interested in both Branthwaite and De Ligt, it is unlikely that they will sign both players. The final decision will depend on factors such as squad space and available funds.
The departure of Raphael Varane at the end of last season and the uncertainty surrounding Victor Lindelof’s contract, which expires next year, have created a need for reinforcements in Manchester United’s defense. Despite interest from other Premier League clubs last summer, Harry Maguire chose to remain at Old Trafford and made 22 appearances in the Premier League.
Manchester United have already made some moves in the transfer market this summer. They signed Joshua Zirkzee from Italian side Bologna in a £36.5 million deal, making him their first signing of the window. The club has also agreed to a £27 million fee with French club Marseille for striker Mason Greenwood. On the other hand, defender Willy Kambwala left Manchester United to join La Liga outfit Villarreal for a fee of around £9 million.
As Manchester United continue their pursuit of defensive reinforcements, the potential signing of Leny Yoro would be a significant step forward. With ongoing negotiations for Jarrad Branthwaite and Matthijs de Ligt, it remains to be seen which player will ultimately join the club. However, one thing is clear – Manchester United is determined to strengthen their defense and build a formidable squad for the upcoming season in the Premier League.