Liverpool fans have taken a particular interest in Manchester United's recruitment strategy this summer with the two English giants on a mutual hunt for Europe's most pedigreed young centre-backs.
The Red Devils ultimately struck first Thursday afternoon, locking down defender Leny Yoro from LOSC Lille on a mammoth €62 million transfer which, potentially, could come at the expense of Bayern Munich regular Matthijs de Ligt.
United sporting director Dan Ashworth offered insight into the club's decision-making in a statement confirming Yoro's signing on Thursday. “Leny is one of the most exciting young defenders in world football; he possesses every attribute needed to develop into a top-class centre-back. Having had such an excellent start to his career we are excited to support him in reaching his immense potential here at Manchester United."
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“This club has a fantastic record of developing young players, whether homegrown or brought in from elsewhere, and giving them the required guidance, time and patience to grow and flourish. Under Erik ten Hag and our excellent staff we will ensure that Leny has the perfect platform to achieve the success that everyone across the club is aiming for.”
The 18-year-old arrives in Manchester after completing his first season as a regular in the Lille starting XI, making 32 appearances in a sweeper role for Ligue 1's third-ranked defense. Often lingering as the last line of defense for Les Dogues, Yoro proved an unremarkable statistical defender, but he's developed a reputation as one of Europe's elite center-back talents and an assured decision-maker from the back — Yoro completed 92.1 percent of his passes last season, ranking in the 93rd percentile for players in his position across Europe's top-five leagues.
Liverpool initially pursued the French youngster but opted to focus its efforts elsewhere after believing Real Madrid to have command over the sweepstakes, according to the Daily Mirror . Los Blancos ultimately balked at Lille's lofty asking price after LFC stepped away, however, opening the door for Manchester United to make largely uncontested inroads with the player.
"Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honor," Yoro said, speaking to Manchester United's official website. "Since my first conversations with the club, they set out a clear plan for how I can develop in Manchester as part of this exciting project and showed a lot of care for me and my family."
Yoro's signing complicates United's pursuit of de Ligt, which was seen as 'locked and loaded' by GIVEMESPORT just two days earlier. The Red Devils have the opportunity to secure the Dutch center-back, who started 27 games for Bayern in 2022-23 before being limited by injuries this past season, for a relative £42million bargain, but are also in pursuit of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and look to make additional signings in the midfield.
To the chagrin of Liverpool fans, meanwhile, the transfer buzz around Merseyside has reduced to whispered, unsubstantiated murmurs regarding Euros hero Marc Guehi.
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