Leny Yoro is having a medical before completing switch to Manchester United – and Liverpool’s apparent reason for withdrawing the interest has left supporters raging
Manchester United have pipped Liverpool to the signing of Leny Yoro – in part because the Merseyside club thought the centre-back was only interested in joining Real Madrid.
But after the La Liga champions decided against moving this summer, having already put resources into bringing in France superstar Kylian Mbappe, United have snuck in to complete a deal worth up to £52m with Lille. It’s understood Liverpool were under the impression that Madrid were favourites – and decided against stepping up their interest this summer.
Yoro, 18, will have his medical on Tuesday before finalising personal terms – and he will become the second signing of the summer at United, following the acquisition of Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
He is expected to sign a five-year deal, while United remain interested in another Dutch player, Bayern Munich ’s Matthijs de Ligt, and have had two bids – the most recent of which was £45m – rejected by Everton for up-and-coming England international Jarrad Branthwaite.
Centre back has been earmarked as the area needing the greatest overhaul by head coach Erik ten Hag. Raphael Varane left the club at the end of last season, while they are open to offers for Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
After Zirkzee’s arrival was confirmed on Sunday, Ten Hag said: “He is a player who can link up the game, who can be available, hold up the ball, have good ideas, be creative, can dribble, [make] combinations.
“So that’s a different type and always what we are looking for, so it gives us more options tactically, which is good because, especially up front, we have many players who can play very direct and they can take a big benefit from his skills.”
However the Yoro deal has appeared to catch Liverpool ’s recruitment department and owners FSG out, leading to a predictably furious response from some of their supporters online. “FSG have been found out yet again,” one fan posted on X. Another added: “Liverpool are far too big for FSG.”
And one fan went further by questioning the club’s entire strategy, writing: “We didn’t bid for Yoro because we have no money, plain and simple, as we haven’t sold anyone yet. Sell to buy merchants. FSG run Liverpool like Bournemouth.”
New boss Arne Slot is yet to see an addition made to his squad, although leading goalscorer Mo Salah is expected to stay despite interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia. The club also have no interest in selling Trent Alexander-Arnold despite the England star entering the final year of his contract.
