Manchester United Initiates Move for Lille’s Leny Yoro Amid High Competition**
Manchester United has started the process of attempting to sign young center-back Leny Yoro from Lille, following recent reports. The 18-year-old has had a standout debut season in Ligue 1, earning a spot in the Team of the Season and becoming one of Europe’s most coveted defenders. With his contract set to expire next year, Lille’s president, Olivier Letang, confirmed last week that Yoro will be allowed to leave this summer.The primary issue now is determining Yoro’s potential destination. Despite significant interest from numerous clubs in recent months, securing his transfer has proven to be complicated.
Yoro has shown a strong preference for joining Real Madrid. However, Real Madrid has not yet made a decisive move, possibly avoiding a bidding war and potentially waiting for his contract to expire.
Manchester United’s interest in Yoro has become more definitive. Liverpool has also been closely associated with Yoro, but according to Fabrizio Romano, Yoro will only consider Liverpool if Real Madrid does not come forward.
Meanwhile, PSG and Manchester United remain in contention. Romano noted that until recently, Manchester United had merely expressed interest without taking substantial action.
This scenario appears to have evolved. According to Sky Sports, Manchester United has now officially contacted Yoro’s representatives, marking their first concrete step towards signing the young talent.
This shift in strategy may be due to the realization that Everton is unlikely to lower their high €80+ million valuation of primary target Jarrad Branthwaite.Additionally, Manchester United’s efforts to sign Jean-Clair Todibo have been hampered by UEFA, which has barred them from conducting business with Nice, a sister club.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to secure two major signings before the pre-season begins. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether Manchester United will be able to persuade Yoro to reject Real Madrid and join their team instead.Manchester United is making significant efforts to secure Lille’s young center-back, Leny Yoro, amid intense competition from other top European clubs. The 18-year-old has had an impressive debut season in Ligue 1, earning a spot in the Team of the Season and catching the eye of many clubs due to his performances. With his contract expiring next year, Lille’s president Olivier Letang has confirmed that Yoro will be allowed to leave this summer.
Despite the high demand, Yoro has expressed a strong preference for joining Real Madrid, which has not yet made an aggressive move, potentially avoiding a bidding war and waiting for his contract to run out. Manchester United’s interest has now become more concrete as they have officially contacted Yoro’s representatives, a significant step forward from their initial expressions of interest.
Liverpool is also in the mix but seems to be Yoro’s second choice behind Real Madrid. PSG and Manchester United remain serious contenders. The urgency for Manchester United to secure Yoro may stem from the high valuation of their primary target, Jarrad Branthwaite, and complications in signing Jean-Clair Todibo due to UEFA restrictions. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe keen on making major signings before the pre-season, Manchester United’s ability to persuade Yoro to choose them over Real Madrid will be crucial.
