Manchester United sent Leny Yoro £51m transfer reality as fresh Liverpool claim emerges

Manchester United continue to be linked with a move for Lile centre-back Leny Yoro as fresh reports emerged on Thursday.

MEN Sport understands that United are looking for two new centre-backs to fill the void left by the soon-to-depart Raphael Varane on June 30. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Willy Kambwala will be the only senior players available in that position with Jonny Evans currently in negotiations to extend his short-term deal at the club.

And Yoro is one of the potential new centre-backs United are said to be looking at with the 19-year-old attracting interest from several big clubs from across Europe. Below is a look at the career of Yoro so far, the transfer links and whether he could be a realistic signing at Old Trafford this summer...

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Career so far

The Frenchman has spent his entire career so far at Lille having risen through the French club's youth academy. His first senior appearance came in May 2022 against Nice where he overtook Eden Hazard to become Lille's second-youngest debutant ever.

Yoro's performances helped Lille finish fifth in 2022/23, his first full season as a professional footballer. The Ligue 1 side ended the 2023/24 campaign in fourth and narrowly lost in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals to Aston Villa.

Transfer links

Recent reports in Spanish publication Marca have claimed that United have made a bid of €60million (£51m) for the centre-back.

Real Madrid are also said to be interested and are seen as favourites according to the Athletic's David Ornstein. He adds that United and Liverpool are 'actively pursuing a deal.'

"Liverpool + Man Utd actively pursuing deal to sign Leny Yoro from Lille," he said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "#LFC & #MUFC see Real Madrid as favourites but pushing hard for 18yo centre-back - viewed as unique market opportunity separate to other targets. #PSG keen too."

Yoro only has 12 months left to run on his contract with Lille and he is widely expected to leave this summer with it said that a new deal at his current club is unlikely. Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked

What has been said?

Lille boss Paulo Fonseca was recently full of praise for Yoro and the ability the defender has at such a young age. Fonseca also made a prediction about Yoro's future, which could hint at a transfer this summer amid links to United.

"To me the players don't have age, they have quality," he told BBC Sport in April. "Because here we don't have the possibility to buy very expensive players, we find a way to make the young players grow.

"I believe Leny [Yoro] in the next year will be at one of the best clubs in Europe. He started here at 16 with us. He is very ambitious, but very disciplined.

"He grew a lot but he is a kid with a big maturity, with big quality. He's very focused, very concentrated, he wants to learn every day and I have no doubt in modern football he will be one of the best central defenders in the world."

Transfer verdict

United will be in desperate need of centre-backs this summer so expect them to be linked with plenty of names from across Europe. However, after just two full seasons of senior football, it is unclear as to whether the 19-year-old will be able to make the huge step up to United.

A reported £51m fee will certainly be appealing for clubs especially considering the reported £80m price tag being slapped on Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite. If United can convince Yoro to join, then this is a deal they should go for with the teenager only likely to get better.