Manchester United are undergoing a significant squad overhaul this summer and the center of defence looks to feel the brunt of it.
Willy Kambwala’s exit is close to completion, with Matthijs de Ligt coming the other way, while the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof face doubt over their futures.
Add to that Raphael Varane’s exit and the need to have more cover to ease Lisandro Martinez, and the need for United to buy more than just De Ligt is clear.
Unfortunately, Everton’s sale of Amadou Onana makes Jarrad Branthwaite’s transfer even more unlikely, transforming Leny Yoro from an ambitious target to a borderline necessary one.
Real Madrid make that move difficult as it is an open secret that the player prefers joining the Spanish giants. However, their latest plan of action indicates that the tide may be shifting.
Real Madrid’s contingency plan
It was believed that Madrid had such confidence in landing Yoro that they were happily making lowball offers to Lille, knowing that Yoro would run his contract down and join them on a free transfer next year.
United blew that offer out of the water with an ambitious bid, adding Lille to the list of stakeholders who want Yoro to join United now.
The combination of that pressure along with United’s own determination means that the tide is shifting in United’s favour and Madrid might have come to the same realisation.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that Madrid have started preparing contingency plans in the event they lose Yoro to United.
They have started making moves for Union Berlin’s 25-year-old defender, Diogo Leite, who has a price tag of around £17 million, coincidentally the amount Madrid bid for Yoro.
Leite is also subject to interest from clubs like Sevilla and Bayer Leverkusen, but unlike Yoro’s case, none of those can match the financial firepower of Madrid and also lack the project the Spanish side can sell to the player.
Just like Amadou Onana’s sale to Aston Villa potentially ends United’s chances of landing Branthwaite for a reasonable price, this pivot by Madrid could mean United are now favourites for landing Yoro.
Urgency for a center-back
United have other holes to fill in their squad, although the surprise reconciliation with Jadon Sancho probably pushes the need for an attacker back a bit.
However, the middle of defence is the most urgent one due to the huge turnover in personnel. United haven’t been concretely linked with any other center-back apart from the trio of Yoro, Branthwaite, and De Ligt.
Branthwaite looks unlikely, and De Ligt is close to being secured, which leaves United’s success hinging on Yoro’s decision. The bid was initially taken as an attempt to just register themselves on the big stage but as the situation is developing, it could age as more than just a statement of intent.
A case can even be made that United could need more than just two new center-backs, especially if Victor Lindelof or Harry Maguire leave the club, which means the success of their window could depend upon Yoro’s decision.
It would be a huge coup if they beat Madrid in the race for one of Europe’s prime defensive prospects and the chance of that happening looks better than ever.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
