Lille ‘Threatened to Bench Leny Yoro for a Year’ if He Didn’t Accept Manchester United’s Offer

Manchester United’s £52m deal for Leny Yoro was reportedly sealed after Lille threatened to sideline the 18-year-old defender for a year if he didn’t accept the offer, according to Spanish outlet Marca.

Yoro had initially preferred a move to Real Madrid, but United’s determination to sign the young star ultimately won out. The Red Devils are set to finalize personal terms over a five-year contract with the option of a 12-month extension, and Yoro is expected to complete his move to Old Trafford by Friday.

According to Marca, Yoro’s mind was made up by Lille’s threat to bench him for the remaining year of his contract, after they had agreed a lucrative deal for their academy graduate. The French club had accepted United’s offer of £42m plus £10m in add-ons for the young defender.

Real Madrid were reportedly confident of adding Yoro to their roster but were unwilling to match United’s £52m offer. The Spanish giants have a history of leveraging young players’ desires to move to the Bernabeu, but this tactic ultimately failed to secure Yoro’s signature.

In addition to the higher transfer fee, Yoro is set to receive a higher salary than what he would have pocketed had he moved to the Spanish capital. United are set to complete their second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee for £36.5m.

The club is interested in signing a second centre-back, having held talks with Bayern Munich over £42m-rated Matthijs de Ligt and seeing two offers of up to £50m for Jarrad Branthwaite rejected by Everton. However, this could depend on raising extra cash through player sales and offloading another central defender.

United have rejected an offer from Fulham for Scott McTominay, which is believed to be lower than the £30m bid they turned down from West Ham a year ago, while the Hammers are weighing up a £15m move for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

United hope to sign a defensive midfielder and right-back this summer, and will consider offers for McTominay and Wan-Bissaka if they match the quality and value of their players.