When Manchester United announced the departure of Raphael Varane last week, it acted as confirmation for one of the worst-kept secrets in the transfer market.
Everyone knows the Premier League giants want central defenders this summer. And Varane’s exit – his contract expires in July – felt like the first domino to fall in what is expected to be an overdue overhaul of the club’s backline.
If reports are to be believed, Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton is target number one. Manchester United will allegedly offer around £55 million.
Phenomenal in the air and pretty good with the ball at his feet too, young, driven and Premier League proven, Branthwaite ticks about every box available to him. Fellow youngster Leny Yoro, meanwhile, ticks the vast majority himself, with Branthwaite’s track record in English football perhaps the only thing he has over LOSC Lille’s teenage colossus.
Manchester United may miss out to Paris Saint-Germain
Yoro, a couple of months ago, was clocked as the best defender in the whole of Europe when it comes to ‘duels won’.
Given that Erik ten Hag wants his defenders to be aggressive and to play on the front foot, Yoro feels like a good fit.
With his contract expiring in 2025, meanwhile,the 18-year-old also looks to be available for a lower sum than Everton will demand for Branthwaite, Financial Fair Play concerns or not. In fact, reports from France are now saying that Lille have accepted a bid from Paris Siant-Germain in the region of £42 million.
A fee that, if correct, has to be a bargain for a defender who may yet have 15 years at the very top level ahead of him. A fee £36 million less than previously reported.
“Agreement in principle between PSG and LOSC for Leny Yoro,” Sports Zone write on X. “(The fee is) a little over 50 million euros.
“LOSC needs funds. The player still gives his preference to (Real) Madrid, who have been very convincing since January.”
According to Cadena Ser, Real Madrid are big admirers of Yoro too. There was a suggestion that the Champions League finalists would instead look to promote Rafa Marin from the academy with Yoro’s price a little on the expensive side, albeit that was before it emerged that Lille may be willing to accept just £42 million.
Leny Yoro likely to leave Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille
“He is a very strong, fast and, above all, an intelligent player. Even so, I think he has a lot of room for improvement. He has incredible potential,” Cesar Arzo, who played in Spain with Villarreal, tells Marca of Yoro, drawing comparisons with two of the modern game’s very best – and most decorated – central defenders.
“In addition to the aerial game, which he masters perfectly for how young he is, I would say that he is a footballer who adapts to any situation. Any phase and any moment. His performances throughout the season have been very good. Exceptional.
“The first time I saw him, he seemed like the portrait of Raphael Varane. The same attitude, the same maturity at the same age, the same size. Kids like that are a blessing. Yoro is very similar to Varane.
“That top speed that he shows in every game… Technically, he has very good movement,” Arzo adds. “Furthermore, he does not lose duels. It may be creating too many expectations, but he has certain similarities, in terms of physiognomy and physical power, with (Virgil) Van Dijk.”
If Sports Zone are right, and that PSG are closing in on a deal, the ball finds itself bouncing into Man United’s court. Will the Red Devils return the serve and begin a rally which could raise Yoro’s fee over the coming weeks?