July 17th 2024.
Manchester United is on the verge of securing a deal to sign Lille defender Leny Yoro, beating out competition from top clubs like Real Madrid. Fans are eager to see what the highly-rated French centre-back will bring to the team.
The club has been determined to strengthen their defence this transfer window, considering multiple options such as Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. However, they ultimately set their sights on the 18-year-old Yoro and have successfully negotiated a €50m deal with Lille.
This will be Sir Jim Ratcliffe's second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Joshua Zirkzee. It's no wonder fans are buzzing with excitement about the potential addition to their team.
So who exactly is Leny Yoro? The young player joined Lille's youth system in 2017 and made his first-team debut in May 2022. He quickly caught the attention of former Lille manager Paulo Fonseca, who praised his maturity and selected him for the first team. Yoro even surpassed Lille academy graduate Eden Hazard as the second-youngest player in the league's history to make his debut.
In the following season, Yoro became a key player in the team's defence and helped them secure a spot in the Champions League. His impressive performances didn't go unnoticed, as top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Liverpool scouted him. He even earned a call-up to the French national team for the Paris Olympics.
But it seems like Manchester United has won the race for Yoro's signature, outbidding Real Madrid and pushing Liverpool out of the running. So why does United want to sign him?
Despite his young age, Yoro possesses a level of calmness and maturity beyond his years, which caught Fonseca's eye and has made him one of Europe's most promising talents. The Portuguese coach even went on to say that he has never seen such a young player with so much class and elegance.
Standing at six foot three, Yoro's height and speed make him a formidable defender. He is able to read the game well and make crucial interceptions, and has also improved his physicality in duels. While he may not have fully bulked out yet, he still boasts the best aerial-duel success rate among Lille players. He is also technically proficient, with a high pass success rate, although he may need to work on his defence-splitting progressive passes.
Some have compared Yoro to Arsenal's William Saliba, but his defensive style is more similar to that of Virgil van Dijk. This makes him a perfect fit for United's style of play under manager Erik ten Hag.
Yoro is typically positioned on the right side of Lille's defence, and he is expected to play a similar role under ten Hag. With defenders like Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez comfortable playing on the left, Yoro could easily slot into the team. He also has experience playing as the last, covering defender, which could come in handy for ten Hag's high defensive line.
However, it may take Yoro some time to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League. He could also potentially form a partnership with Martinez, who is significantly shorter at 5ft 9in, so United may need to manage his minutes and potentially send him out on loan to continue his development.
That being said, with the departure of Raphael Varane, Maguire and Martinez's injury records, and the age of Jonny Evans, it's likely that Yoro will start the season with his new club. And given his impressive career trajectory so far, there's no reason to believe he won't make an immediate impact at Old Trafford.
It's no surprise that Manchester United fans are eagerly awaiting more news about Yoro's arrival and his potential impact on the team. With more updates to come, stay tuned for the latest news, exclusives, and analysis on Manchester United. Sign up now and join the excitement!
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