Leny Yoro’s Manchester United transfer could have big impact on former Ole Gunnar Solskjaer favourites

This summer already has a different feel to it at Manchester United.

While in the past the club have been slow to act in the transfer window, this year has seen fast and decisive action from United - despite the general lack of activity in the market so far due to Euro 2024 and the Copa America.

Raphael Varane, Brandon Williams, Omari Forson and Anthony Martial left on free transfers, while transfers for Willy Kambwala, Alvaro Fernandez and Donny van de Beek have been agreed. Mason Greenwood’s exit is expected to be confirmed soon, while decisive action has also been taken on the futures of Jonny Evans and Jadon Sancho in recent weeks.

Joshua Zirkzee’s arrival from Bologna was confirmed last week and he could be followed by a second signing in the coming days. Leny Yoro travelled to Manchester on Wednesday to complete his medical ahead of his expected move from Lille for a fee of up to £52m.

Yoro’s transfer is a positive indication for several reasons, not least that he is among the world’s most promising young centre-backs, while fighting off competition from Real Madrid and getting a deal wrapped up quickly are also encouraging.

Centre-back was an area United identified at the beginning of the summer as one that needed to be strengthened, and the Red Devils have seen Varane and Kambwala leave this summer. Yoro could be followed by another defensive addition this summer with two bids rejected for Jarrad Branthwaite, while Matthijs de Ligt is a summer target.

Two signings at the heart of defence would leave United with a surplus of players in that area. The club have four centre-backs on their books at present, and Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans won’t be moving anywhere this summer.

That leaves Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, two players United are willing to listen to offers for. In fact, both were available for transfer last year and have fallen down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag.

Lindelof, in particular, suffered a wretched 2023/24 and started just 14 Premier League games all term. The Swedish captain has been linked with a move to Fenerbache but talk of a potential exit has gone quiet in recent weeks.

As for Maguire, after missing Euro 2024 through injury the ex-Leicester City star is recovering at Carrington and was filmed this week kicking a ball in training. Despite having the captaincy removed last summer and seeing a move to West Ham United fall through, Maguire played his way back into the team and none of his fellow centre-backs started more games last season.

Regardless, both he and Lindelof could be on the move this window, especially with the club needing to generate revenue to fund incomings and Ineos looking to move away from the stuttering group that underwhelmed in the years prior to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial ownership of the club.

Indeed, Maguire and Lindelof were the preferred partnership during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time at the club and, in their first season as United team-mates, started alongside each in 35 Premier League games.

Things have changed since then and it looks likely that Yoro and Martinez will be the preferred pairing this season. Should Branthwaite, De Ligt or another centre-back follow Yoro through the door, it’s almost inevitable that at least one of Maguire or Lindelof will depart.