Major Update on Leny Yoro Transfer as Manchester United Steal March on Real Madrid

Manchester United have had a €62m (£52m) offer accepted by Lille for Leny Yoro, leaving the young defender to decide on the move amidst interest from Real Madrid. United are currently negotiating personal terms with Yoro's representatives.

United’s deal consists of an initial €50m plus €12m in add-ons. Real Madrid values the 18-year-old centre-back lower and might wait until next summer when he is due to be a free agent. Consequently, Lille prefers Yoro to join Manchester United.

Yoro, primarily a centre-back, made his debut for Lille in May 2022 at just 16, becoming the club’s second-youngest player. He is one of three centre-backs Manchester United are targeting, along with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt. Manager Erik ten Hag aims to sign two of these defenders to upgrade his squad, though this may require the sale of Victor Lindelöf and Harry Maguire.

To finance these transfers, United have sold Willy Kambwala to Villarreal for a fee rising to €11.5m, Donny van de Beek to Girona in a deal that could rise to €9.1m, and Álvaro Fernández to Benfica for £5m.

Bologna’s striker Joshua Zirkzee is set to become United’s first recruit of the window for €42m, while Ten Hag remains interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The sale of Casemiro may be necessary to fund the purchase of Ugarte, who is valued at about €45m and under contract until 2028. A loan deal for Ugarte is also a possibility.