Ineos are building for the future at Manchester United and they have stumbled on an exciting duo who can follow in the footsteps of club legends Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
The defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic was not only one of the best in Manchester United’s history, but the best seen in the Premier League.
The centre-back pairing won five Premier League titles together and were at the heart of the defence for United’s 2008 Champions League triumph.
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This season, Michael Carrick has forged a solid partnership with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, but Ineos are already looking to the future with Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro.
Heaven and Yoro have been training together in Dubai this week to send a signal to Carrick that they are ready to compete for spots in his starting line-up at Old Trafford. The report added that the young duo have been forming a close bond.
Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro can forge legacy like Ferdinand and Vidic
Ferdinand was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Premier League in 2023 and Vidic still remains one of the most underrated defenders in the Premier League. For any young defender at United, these are the idols they can look up to.
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In Heaven and Yoro, United have two of the most promising young defenders in Europe, and they have the advantage of time to follow in the footsteps of Ferdinand and Vidic.
Interestingly, the profiles of Heaven and Yoro are not too dissimilar from that of Vidic and Ferdinand.
Yoro has been compared to Ferdinand due to his preference of playing on the right-side of defence and being calm and composed in possession.
Vidic complemented Ferdinand by offering aggression in tackles and aerial dominance – that is exactly where Heaven is thriving.
Heaven is dominating aerial duels and under Amorim he showed he has the tenacity to defend on the front foot and stay tight to attackers.
Ineos want to build around Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in defence
Yoro and Heaven are currently behind the likes of Maguire and Martinez in Carrick’s pecking order, but it seems Ineos are keen to build the side around the young defenders.
Maguire’s contract is expiring at the end of the year, and reports suggest one reason behind Ineos hesitancy is that club chiefs don’t want to block the development of Yoro and Heaven.
Behind them, there is also competition from the likes of Tyler Fredricson and Godwill Kukonki, the latter has been particularly impressive in the academy.
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