Man United look to have made a definitive decision on their second signing of the summer as young defender Leny Yoro is reportedly already “in Manchester” for his medical ahead of joining the Premier League club.
The French centre-back, who has impressed during his breakthrough into LOSC Lille’s first team over the past two seasons, has attracted a number of suitors across this transfer window, including Liverpool, PSG and, most notably, Real Madrid.
However, despite a tentative initial bid from Madrid, it looks as though United have now pulled the trigger and beaten the La Liga giants to his signature, as it is said Yoro has now flown to Manchester for his medical with a fee already agreed between both clubs and the final details soon to be confirmed.
According to the latest updates from ever-reliable transfer source, Fabrizio Romano, the deal is said to be a five-year deal which “includes several bonuses based on appearances, performances and more”.
⚪️🇫🇷 Real Madrid, also informed of Leny Yoro’s travel to Manchester to finalize his move to United.
Real have always been clear: €20/25m for Yoro this summer or join as free agent in 2025.
Yoro’s preference is always thought to have been Spain, but it seems the recently incumbent INEOS Group were clinical in negotiations and simply met the Ligue 1 club’s asking price while Madrid were apparently willing to wait until 2025 when his contract was due to expire
It was reported on Tuesday that Man United had made progress in talks with two central defensive targets, but that only a deal for one of them was expected to be completed given their transfer budget and stricter measures than ever around FFP and PSR.
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That being said, with the departure of Raphaël Varane and Willy Kambwala, Victor Lindelöf having just a year left on his contract, not to mention other players future’s still looking uncertain, outgoings could potentially make room for another among the back four to be brought in.
Meanwhile, even famous fans of the Red Devils like social media star Harry Pinero have been playing the role of football agent to try and curry Yoro’s favour. Let’s just say it can’t have hurt their chances.
Social media influencer Harry Pinero messaged Leny Yoro trying to convince him to join Manchester United.
While an official announcement is yet to come and it’s still unclear if his medical has been completed or if all personal terms signed off, for all intents and purposes, it looks like a done deal.
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Bringing in Yoro would mark the second acquisition by United so far ahead of the 2024/25 season, with Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee also being unveiled earlier this week – two youthful additions to the overall squad depth at either end of the pitch.
Elsewhere in defence, Premier League veteran and long-serving club servant Jonny Evans was also given a new one-year deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford after impressing as what started out as a stop-gap signing amid their chronic injury problems throughout the previous campaign.
Featured Images — Leny Yoro/Equipe de France de Football (via Instagram)
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The 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In yet more huge sporting news for Greater Manchester, the 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to 0161 later this year.
We’ve had plenty of big peaks of late, but things seem to just keep going up and up.
Set to host the global event for the first time in our history, Manchester will welcome the World Climbing Series (WCS), which is set to include both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines ahead of the next Summer Games in 2028.
2027 will mark the 38th edition of the series, which will also be one of only a handful to be held in the North – it’s just down to our city to make it the best.
Officially announced on Friday, 16 January, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) confirmed the return to the UK.
Founded back in 1989, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is coming up on four decades since the competition first began – Leeds being chosen as the inaugural hosts – the event has come a long way since then.
The IFSC’s rebranding of the annual bouldering, lead and speed trials to the modern WSC, which began last year, was initially revealed back in 2023.
Welcoming continental talent right down to the youth level, the upcoming 2026 World Climbing Series is taking place in the summer and will be hosted by the city of Innsbruck in Austria.
As for the WSC’s Manchester debut, which is being organised in collaboration with the City Council, Manchester Accommodation BID, MCR Active and the National Lottery via UK Sport investment.
It’s not the only big sporting celebration that the Council will be supporting in 2027.
Paul Ratcliffe, CEO of the British Mountaineering Council, said in an official statement: “It’s exciting to be able to confirm that a World Series climbing event will return to the UK in 2027 as part of the BMC’s major event programme.
“Hosting a competition of this scale in Manchester is a strong statement about the UK’s place on the international climbing stage and a great opportunity for our athletes, fans, the climbing community and the wider public to experience the sport at the very highest level.
“Our ‘Route to Adventure’ strategy sets out how we will build on moments like this to support people into climbing and help them progress, whatever their starting point. Using major events to inspire participation, strengthen pathways and reinforce our commitment to inclusion is central to our long-term approach.”
Scheduled to take place in June, you can find out more information about the 2027 World Climbing Series in Manchester by signing up for the official event mailing list HERE.
Manchester City agree deal to sign top Premier League defender Marc Guehi
Danny Jones
It looks like they’ve finally got a done deal: Manchester City have reportedly agreed a deal for the transfer of highly sought-after defender Marc Guehi.
Man City are said to have finally reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign the increasingly established Three Lions star after emerging as a suitor in recent weeks.
Pep Guardiola’s pursuit of the impressive Premier League centre-back ramped up earlier this month, as it became apparent that they were hoping to hijack Liverpool’s prospective move for Guehi.
The Ivory Coast-born England international looked all set to arrive at Anfield back in the summer, but the deal never materialised, and now rivals City appear to have sealed his signature.
According to breaking transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano, Palace and Man City are said to have now reached an agreement in principle for approximately £20 million.
It’s fair to say that it’s an absolute bargain for a player of his quality.
While details surrounding contract length, wages and add-ons, etc., are yet to be fully confirmed (as is final verification as per an official announcement via his new employers), personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
On the other hand, the acquisition will also see Man City’s total spending to roughly half a billion pounds over the past year alone. Staggering sums for any sporting outfit.
Not that his former London team will mind one bit, of course, as it became increasingly clear that Guehi would be leaving eventually; manager Oliver Glasner – who also seems set to depart at the end of his contract – even addressed the sale in his most recent press conference.
You can see the clip in question down below.
''I wish him all the best for the rest of his career, he will have a great career I think''
Once again, we will have to wait for the official unveiling at the Etihad Campus, but we’d say that this interview is all the verification you need.
With Man City currently facing multiple absences, particularly in their backline with both Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias out injured, Guehi’s arrival is no doubt a welcome one.
Although many debated whether or not Pep needed to sign another centre-half, especially with two promising youth players returning from loan, supporters will nevertheless be glad to have snatched him from the clutches of Liverpool.
Over in the women’s team, they’ve also brought in a new member of the squad who could help spur on their title charge.
Danny Jones -
17th July 2024 
