July 17, (THEWILL) – Manchester United are close to signing Lille defender Leny Yoro for £52 million, reports suggest.
The 18-year-old French centre-back is expected to undergo a medical on Wednesday, having chosen United over Real Madrid.
The initial fee for Yoro is reported to be £52.7 million, with potential add-ons worth an additional £6.7 million. Yoro, who made his Lille debut at 16, is highly regarded as one of Europe’s top young talents.
This transfer would mark United’s second summer signing, following the acquisition of Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. Manager Erik ten Hag has been keen to bolster his defensive options after Raphael Varane’s departure and Harry Maguire’s injury woes.
United had previously pursued other defensive targets, including Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. However, their attempts to sign these players were unsuccessful.
The Red Devils’ interest in Yoro comes after a challenging season defensively. With Varane leaving and Maguire missing the FA Cup final and Euro 2024 due to injury, Ten Hag is looking to strengthen his backline for the upcoming campaign with the club desirous for better performances and results.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
