Manchester United have made a £50m bid for Liverpool’s second transfer target

Manchester United have reportedly bid for another Liverpool transfer target. They try to compete ahead of their rivals.

The brand claim that Manchester United have bid around £50m for Lille centre-back Leny Yoro. The teenager has been an absolute revelation this season, earning a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year at just 18.

This is naturally attracting a lot of interest and United are far from alone. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have long been linked – as have Liverpool.

In fact, there have been reports of Liverpool’s interest dating back to 2023. More recently, L’Equipe claimed the interest is still there as recently as two weeks ago. The Reds have long been the name put together with Real and PSG to sign the young defender.

It’s also one that makes sense. Joel Matip left the club this summer, while there are questions over Ibrahima Konaté’s future as he enters the final two years of his contract.

Yoro could will be the long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk if managed correctly, while he would be a natural partner for Jarell Quansah if the latter remains in the first-team picture.

Should Liverpool bid for Yoro?

We imagine Lille will reject United’s bid for Yoro. Interest from some of the world’s richest clubs puts the French side in an incredibly strong position – one of which will surely approach £100m.

After all, that was the raw figure teams were asking for their young stars. Yoro is certainly one of them, given that he is arguably the best centre-back in France at the moment and is still a teenager.

But it’s debatable whether Liverpool need to be the club to outspend the rest. They have an opening at centre-back, which helps, and Konaté has lost his first-choice role alongside Van Dijk, so the battle is tight.

That’s just a lot of money for a player who doesn’t have much experience. You spend as much on potential as you do actual quality, and we imagine Liverpool would want to spend big on a surer thing if they’re going to sign a centre-back.