Lille defender Leny Yoro is flying to the UK to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms as Manchester United push to secure the coveted centre-back.
The deal is worth over £50 million and marks a significant move for Erik ten hag as he prepares his team for the new 2024/25 Premier League season.
Manchester United and Yoro have agreed on personal terms in principle, following an agreement between the clubs on an initial £52m fee last week. However, Yoro still needed to accept the switch.
Lille are keen to avoid losing Yoro as a free agent when his contract expires in June 2025 and favoured the deal with Man United.
The 18-year-old France youth international has warmed to the idea of moving to Old Trafford, marking a major step forward in the situation, though there is still work to be done.
According to football journalist David Ornstein, Yoro initially preferred to join Real Madrid, but the Spanish club has shown no indication of meeting the price that Manchester United and Lille settled on.
Ornstein tweeted, “EXCLUSIVE: Leny Yoro flying to the UK to take medical + finalize personal terms as Man Utd push to complete signing from Lille. The 18-year defender initially favoured #RMFC but #LOSC accepted an initial €62m #MUFC bid – still work to do but now close.”
If the deal goes through, United will secure their primary target to bolster their defence, acquiring a player regarded across the game as a generational talent.
United still admire other defensive options, such as Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, but additional arrivals will likely depend on departures to create finance and squad space.
