Manchester United look to be moving closer to sealing their next signing of the summer, as talks to sign two potential new defenders are said to be making “progress”, but it is thought only a deal for one is likely to be completed.
The Red Devils already completed their first signing of the INEOS era after securing the services of Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee over the weekend, another addition to Man United’s gradually shifting forward line, but are keen to bolster their defensive ranks given the slate of injury problems last season.
With the likes of Raphaël Varane, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez and more all injured at one point or another throughout the previous campaign, players such as Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat had to be deployed in defence – a situation they need to avoid this year.
As a result, two of the deals reported to be moving forward are for central defenders, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, though it seems the chances of United signing both are less probable.
🔴📰 | #mufc have achieved progress on both Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, although the expectation is that only one of them will be signed. [@David_Ornstein] pic.twitter.com/430J4MVB3y
According to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, “Progress has been achieved on each front recently, though the current expectation is they would recruit one or the other as opposed to both.”
ADVERTISEMENT
De Ligt has been an on and off target at Old Trafford for a number of years already, having emerged as a breakthrough star at Ajax and even being once tipped to become “the world’s best defender” by his former manager, Erik ten Hag, so a reunion would make a lot of sense.
However, the 24-year-old hasn’t quite maintained his best form since leaving the Netherlands, first joining Juventus and then Bayern Munich, where he’s struggled to play his very best football.
ADVERTISEMENT
LOSC Lille centre-back Yoro, on the other hand, looks to be a very promising teenage talent whose career is just getting underway and has already attracted interest from various clubs across Europe, though it looks to be less of a ‘back on track’ bit of match-making than his Dutch counterpart.
🚨 Leny Yoro’s future depends again on player’s decision.
Lille president, pushing for Yoro to join Man United after official bid accepted for €50m plus add-ons last week.
Yoro’s preference remains Real Madrid, it’s only up to the player.
As corroborated by fellow transfer source, Fabrizio Romano, despite a transfer fee between Lille and Man United having been agreed, the 18-year-old’s preference would be a move to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, the acquisition of De Ligt would be ten Hag’s second signing of a former player and his second countryman following the £36.5 million deal for Zirkzee, who finished as the Italian side’s top attacking contributor last season, with 12 goals and seven assists in 37 games.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 23-year-old also picked up the award for Serie A’s Young Player of the Year in just his second season with the club.
United are clearly looking to build a new team around the younger rising stars such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Ramsu Højlund, so players like Zirkzee, Yoro and indeed De Ligt all fit the recuitment strategy.
Founded in Los Angeles back in 2007, and making a splash on social media and growing in popularity ever since, Alo is a favourite among wellness enthusiasts and celebrities alike thanks to offering a curated collection of elevated performance and lifestyle apparel for all genders, aiming to blend the best of technical excellence with contemporary fashion.
Designed to inspire ‘mindful movement’ and ‘modern living’, the brand has a strong commitment to mind-body wellness, and even likes to call its stores sanctuaries.
Alo already has a selection of stores in London, but its move to Manchester marks the first time the brand has ventured outside of the capital to elsewhere in the UK, and has chosen to open doors at the Manchester Arndale complex, on the ever-popular New Cathedral Street.
Alo Yoga is opening its first UK store outside of London here in Manchester / Credit: Alo Yoga (Publicity Picture)
Recognised as the home of luxury brands in Manchester – with retailers such as Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss, and Ralph Lauren already stationed there – Alo is the latest retailer to select New Cathedral Street for its first location in the city.
Alo joins the recently-announced arrivals of Arc’teryx and Represent – the latter of which opened to huge success last October – after signing a 10-year lease.
Asset managers also say Alo’s arrival showcases just how much Manchester has become a ‘magnet’ for fast-growing brands that are keen to access a premium shopper audience.
The luxury activewear and lifestyle brand is moving into New Cathedral Street / Credit: Alo Yoga (Publicity Picture)
“Alo Yoga is a fantastic addition to our retail mix,” commented Scott Linard, who is the Portfolio Director for joint asset managers M&G Real Estate.
“We’re proud to support the growth of innovative brands like Alo Yoga who are seeking high-quality, well-located space to connect with new audiences, and their arrival highlights the strength and diversity of Manchester’s retail offer.”
Steve Gray, who is the Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, added: “Welcoming Alo Yoga to New Cathedral Street underlines its reputation as one of the UK’s premium retail destinations.”
Former Manchester United youngster Brandon Williams and his legal team have issued a statement following his recent sentencing over dangerous driving charges.
The Crumpsall-born defender left the club last year after being released following a 14-year stint in Red, graduating from Man United’s academy and making a number of first-team appearances before being sent out on a pair of loan spells.
After representing Norwich City 26 times and then making just 15 appearances for former youth coach Kieran McKenna‘s Ipswich Town, he hasn’t played professional football for more than 17 months.
Williams was officially given a 14-month prison sentence this past Friday, 23 May, but the term has been suspended for two years, and now Brandon himself has responded following the decision.
Once tipped to succeed Luke Shaw, Brandon Williams has not played a game for almost 18 months.
The free agent pleaded guilty to driving dangerously earlier this month after it was found had been driving at speeds of up to 99mph in a 70 zone prior to crashing his Audi A3.
Issuing a statement to The Manc via his lawyers at Blackfords LLP, he said: “I would like to thank my legal team headed by Richard Littler KC and Philip Williams of Blackfords LLP for establishing that I was not under the influence of any substance at the time of the accident.
“I have always accepted that my driving that day fell below the standard that is expected of me. It was never my intention to cause injury to anyone, but I am responsible for the standard of my driving. I make no excuses. I have learnt from this experience and will ensure there is no repetition.
“I wish to apologise again to those who were involved in the accident. Now that the case has concluded, I look forward to resuming my career with a new team later this year.”
Despite Chester Crown Court hearing that he and his female passenger at the time “appeared to have yellow balloons in their mouth” – typically associated with imbibing nitrous oxide a.k.a. ‘laughing gas’ – Williams has maintained that he was sober during the incident throughout the investigation.
On Friday, the former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams was given a 14-month sentence, suspended for two years, along with a three-year driving ban and 180 hours of community service after crashing his car while speeding at 99mph with a nitrous oxide balloon in his… pic.twitter.com/eeIKM6Z96n
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 24, 2025
The crash, which occurred on the A34 near Handforth in Cheshire back in August 2023, saw the left-back collide with a Ford Fiesta after a female motorist travelling behind him on the dual carriageway around 6pm claimed he seemed out of control of the vehicle. Both cars were heavily damaged.
While Williams will be avoiding jail time, his suspended prison sentence has not only seen him banned from driving for three years but will also see him have to complete 180 hours of community service.
In addition to the collision itself, Williams racked up a total of 30 points on his license for multiple offences, including twice failing to declare who was driving, operating a vehicle without third-party insurance, and now this latest development, having already paid a £1,000 fine in May 2024.
The 24-year-old has since spoken out about the incident in brief detail with Ben Foster (a fellow former United player) on his podcast.
Brandon Williams’ most recent statement isn’t the first time he’s touched upon the incident.
Danny Jones -
16th July 2024 
