Manchester United have pulled off one summer signing in recent days but are now chasing more deals to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s ranks.
The first incoming deal of the summer arrived on Sunday for Manchester United – just hours before England’s Euro 2024 final heartbreak.
United confirmed the arrival of striker Joshua Zirkzee, luring the Dutch international away from Bologna.
Zirkzee marks an exciting signing for United having shown real potential in Serie A and he will be expected to offer support for Rasmus Hojlund up top.
Work must now continue on further deals though with centre backs the focus for United.
Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt wants to sign for United and it would be a surprise if that deal doesn’t materialise in the coming weeks.
United have other targets in mind though – and one of them is being tipped for the very top.
Leny Yoro to Manchester United latest
Lille wonderkid Leny Yoro has become a key target for United over the last week.
Reports in France last week suggested that Lille had accepted a bid of around £42million from United for Yoro, but progress on a deal has been slow.
That is because Yoro is keen on signing for Real Madrid and join forces with fellow French players Ferland Mendy, Edouard Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe.
Real may be willing to wait until Yoro runs out of contract next summer, just as they did for Mbappe.
That leaves United in a tricky position and Fabrizio Romano has offered an update.
Romano claims that Lille’s president Olivier Letang is pushing for Yoro to sign for United given that the cash is on the table.
Yoro’s preference is still to sign for Real, but Romano adds on Instagram that Real’s offer is ‘still lower’ than United’s, though the Spanish giants ‘are calm and confident’ about a deal.
It’s now up to Yoro; hold out for Real and annoy Lille in the process, or make the jump to United and give up on Real.
Liverpool out of Yoro race
There have been murmurings of interest from United’s bitter rivals Liverpool.
The Reds are embarking on a new era under Arne Slot and have been linked as a potential destination for Yoro.
However, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims that Liverpool – as well as Paris Saint-Germain – are ‘out of the race’ as things stand.
Plettenberg believes that the race is purely down to Real or United, leaving Yoro with a decision between two options.
Yoro is yet to make that call but United will at least be relieved to hear that a move to Liverpool looks unlikely.
Missing out to Real would be one thing, but seeing Yoro join Liverpool would have really hurt for United.
It’s now a straight fight between Real and United, leaving Erik ten Hag and co to wait patiently – possibly in hope rather than expectation.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
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