Manchester United have reportedly made contact with Lille over a potential deal for teenager Leny Yoro. Manchester City are also claimed to have held talks with the French club for the defender.
Yoro only turned 18 last month but is attracting interest from top clubs in Europe. The centre-back has already made 34 first-team appearances for Lille after making his debut in May 2022 at the age of 16.
He has started 12 of his side’s 14 Ligue 1 matches so far this season. Lille currently sit fourth in the French top flight and Yoro is one of their shining lights.
United are likely to make defensive signings in the coming transfer windows. And Yoro’s name can be added to a long list of targets.
Le 10 Sport claims the Red Devils have already contacted Lille as well as the player’s representatives. City have also done the same, with ‘concrete’ discussions having begun with both clubs.
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The report says Lille are hoping to convince Yoro to stay and sign a new contract. His current deal expires at the end of next season.
Central defence is likely to be an area United look to strengthen in the near future. Jonny Evans was the only player in that position that United brought in during the summer window.
Evans has since featured more regularly than he or Erik ten Hag would have expected. Lisandro Martinez has missed much of the season with a foot injury while Raphael Varane has fallen out of favour.
Varane is linked with a January exit, while Victor Lindelof is currently out of contract at the end of the season, alongside Evans. Harry Maguire came close to leaving in the summer but has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in recent months.
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Finding a long-term partner for Martinez will be Ten Hag’s aim. Nice star Jean-Clair Todibo and Everton ace Jarrad Branthwaite are among the other centre-backs to be linked with a move to Old Trafford.
But it appears unlikely that United will make any signings in January. Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Chelsea, Ten Hag admitted the winter window is not one the club expect to make any major additions in.
He told the United We Stand fanzine: “I don’t think so — and if so, the approach from United should be that if you can improve your team, then you should do. As a club, you have to look for improvements, so if you can find better and it’s realistic financially and with financial fair play, I think the club has to go with it.
“But realistically, in relation to the market, most of the time you don’t attract the best players in the winter. The top, top players will not leave their clubs in the winter.”
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