Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Leny Yoro from Lille. United had an offer accepted last week and the 18-year-old has decided to join the club, despite interest from Real Madrid.
The fee is expected to rise to around €70million (£58.7m) for the Frenchman, who was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year after impressing last season. Yoro is poised to become United’s second signing of the summer after Joshua Zirkzee arrived from Bologna in a £36.5m move.
It’s expected to take their spending to £95.2m for the summer, with more incomings anticipated as they look to sell several squad members. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire are among the players being linked with moves away as United look to raise some cash.
Tyrone Marshall
A centre-back and a striker were the priority for United at the start of this window and if they secure both before heading off on tour it will have to be considered an excellent start. The reality is sales are now required to boost the budget and who goes might condition who is next to arrive.
United will have to sell another central defender, probably Victor Lindelof, and there are midfielders who could depart, notably Casemiro, while there have been bids for Scott McTominay.
Another, slightly more senior centre-back, would be a preference and Matthijs de Ligt could yet tick that box. The most interesting situation is Casemiro’s, however. If United are to replace him it probably needs to happen sooner rather than later and that is why midfield should be the next area to look at.
Steven Railston
Before the transfer window opened, I said United’s priority must be signing a quality defensive midfielder to replace Casemiro and my opinion hasn’t changed. The Brazilian’s regression was significant last season and persisting with him in the new campaign is inadvisable.
Finding the right player to succeed Casemiro is the challenge. Joao Palhinha appealed, but he’s joined Bayern Munich from Fulham and the market isn’t bursting with options.
Nonetheless, now a forward and a defender have been brought in – although Leny Yoro’s move isn’t official yet – United should focus their efforts on signing that player.
Perhaps PSG’s midfielder Ugrarte fits the billing and he’d add to the South American influence in the dressing room.
Kieran King
It’s clear as day that United need to strengthen their midfield this summer. They need someone to partner Kobbie Mainoo for the long-term as I am not convinced Casemiro can still cut it at the top level. The Brazilian looked way off his best last season, and at 32, should United look to the future? I think so.
Crystal Palace starlet Adam Wharton is the man they should look at. He has impressed since moving to Palace from Blackburn in January and could immediately solve United’s midfield problem. That is the area United should look at next, with Wharton the most ideal candidate available right now.
Tom Doyle
Signing Yoro is a huge coup for United: it also means they don’t need to get sucked into time-sensitive transfer sagas, overbidding for targets as they have done in previous summers. So, what do they need to do next? United could do with another centre-back along with Yoro: Matthijs De Ligt fits the bill at the right price. Jarrad Branthwaite would be a superb signing, but looks too expensive at this point – especially with Everton left baffled by the Yoro fee.
A left-back would be welcome given Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s injury records, while Ten Hag also desperately needs a defensive midfielder: PSG’s Manuel Ugarte looks a good prospect for an affordable fee, but that deal likely rests on Casemiro being sold. In truth, the rest of United’s transfer window hinges on who can be sold to raise more funds.
If Ineos can get Casemiro, Mason Greenwood, Christian Eriksen and one of Victor Lindelof or Harry Maguire (or both of them) out the door, then De Ligt, Ugarte and a left-back would represent upgrades across the squad. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho leaving now looks less likely, but if United could sell either then I would also pick up a winger and/or a striker: Ivan Toney and Federico Chiesa would offer goals, experience and depth at affordable prices.
Isaac Johnson
Capturing Matthijs de Ligt as well as Yoro is a mouth-watering prospect but one that could be scuppered by past transfer failings. United are thought to be operating on a net transfer budget of just £50m, having so far received an initial £10m for two sales and spent £36m on the arrival of Joshua Zirkzee.
The purchase of Yoro will take the net spend up to £85m with a midfielder still to buy. The probable exit of Mason Greenwood for around £27m will lower this back down to circa £58m but sales will still be needed.
De Ligt would be a great addition but will cost £42m, money that ought to be first spent on a midfielder. United are expected to offload Casemiro and a replacement will be needed.
£101m-rated Joao Neves is too expensive for a player with just 75 club appearances, while a return deal for Sofyan Amrabat seems risky, albeit much cheaper. If a deal under £40m can be secured for Manuel Ugarte, it might be worth the punt.
Isaac Seelochan
It’s been a promising transfer window for United so far this summer and it will be a welcome relief to fans that they haven’t been dragged into the drawn-out transfer sagas of previous years.
If and when Yoro joins then Ten Hag will have two of Europe’s brightest young stars joining after the arrival of Zirkzee. It’s a mouthwatering prospect to go alongside other young talent including Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund.
But midfield remains a concern as United cannot afford to go a whole season with Casemiro trying to cover spaces which left United’s defence exposed on countless occasions last term. The priority now has to be a defensive midfielder with PSG’s Manuel Ugarte looking like a player who could fit into their new philosophy under Dan Ashworth and Ineos.
Joao Neves would also be a great signing but the fee required to complete a deal is likely to be beyond United’s financial means in this window.
Amie Wilson
The signings of Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro add to both the front and back line options for Erik ten Hag in the upcoming season, so concentration should be now on completing the spine with a
