Manchester United’s latest signing could make his debut on Saturday afternoon after being named in the travelling squad to face Rangers.
Highly-rated centre-back Leny Yoro became Manchester United’s second summer signing this week following the addition of forward Joshua Zirkzee.
United managed to edge out Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain in the hunt for Yoro’s signature in a statement £52m signing.
Though Zirkzee remains on holiday after his involvement in Euro 2024 for the Netherlands, Yoro linked up with his teammates in training for the first time on Friday.
Now it has been revealed the teenage defender is in the squad for Saturday’s friendly against Rangers and could make his debut.
Leny Yoro could immediately climb up the pecking order
United may have invested a hefty amount on Yoro but that was mostly spent with one eye cast to the future.
Regardless of his sky-high potential, Yoro is just 18 and shouldn’t be expected to immediately adapt to the Premier League and be able to play a full season.
As United discovered with Ramus Hojlund last season, piling all the pressure on a youngster with a highly inflated price tag can lead to disappointment.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that Ten Hag still wants to add another centre-back to his ranks with Matthijs de Ligt or Jarrad Branthwaite being targeted.
Should Lisandro Martinez stay fit, he would be one of the starting centre-backs likely alongside one of the new signings.
With Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans still in the squad, Yoro could actually face some competition for minutes.
However, he could steal a march on his closest competitors on Saturday. The Frenchman is a surprise inclusion in the squad while Maguire and Lindelof are not involved.
If Yoro makes his debut and performs well, he could make an instant impact and immediately place himself higher up the pecking order. At least until the second centre-back signing arrives.
Manchester United vs Rangers LIVE: Team news as Leny Yoro makes squad & match updates
Manchester United squad vs Rangers
As well as the exciting news of Yoro making the trip to Edinburgh for United’s second friendly of pre-season, Erik ten Hag has also welcomed three more key players back to the squad.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana is involved after sitting out the 1-0 defeat to Rosenborg on Monday while fellow wingers Amad and Jadon Sancho have been selected.
Sancho hasn’t played for Ten Hag since August 2023 after falling out with the manager and spending the second half of last season out on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
Marcus Rashford, Lindelof, Maguire, Antony and Scott McTominay have not made the trip.
The full squad is: Mee, Onana, Vitek, Aljofree, Amass, Bennett, Evans, Jackson, Fish, Murrary, Ogunneye, Oyedele, Wan-Bissaka, Yoro, Casemiro, Collyer, Fletcher, Hannibal, Mather, Mount, Scanlon, Amad, Ennis, Hugill, Sancho, Wheatley.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
