Sport

Manchester United make ‘progress’ in talks with two defenders but only one is likely to be signed

But which one will it be?

Danny Jones - 16th July 2024

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
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) July 16, 2024

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.”

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.

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.

Talks with PSG, currently gone cold. pic.twitter.com/evjrN9CmXF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 15, 2024

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.

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.

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Featured Images — Leny Yoro/LOSC Lille (via IG)/The Manc/Steffen Prößdorf (via Wiki Commons)