Manchester United’s 2023/24 season is unlikely to be memorable.
It wasn’t only the results that were alarming; it’s tough to recall a single Premier League game in which the Red Devils genuinely dominated.
According to Erik ten Hag, the team’s struggles are primarily due to injuries, which is understandable given the frequent changes in the backline.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly looking to improve the center-back position, with one prospective candidate outperforming Jarrad Branthwaite.
Manchester United’s quest for a centre defender.
According to Marca, Manchester United has made an attempt to sign outstanding defender Leny Yoro.
The Lille jewel is expected to be at the centre of a transfer fight between the world’s biggest clubs, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Liverpool all keen.
Yet, it’s mentioned that United have looked to beat the competition with an early offer of around £51m.
This means that Yoro could just prove to be a better deal than the Red Devils other defensive target, Branthwaite, with Everton hoping to achieve £70m this summer.
Why Yoro would be an upgrade on Branthwaite
Whether it was in Ligue 1 or Europe last season, Yoro performed like a seasoned professional with years of experience.
At just 18 years of age, the French ace is regarded as one of the biggest prospects in world football, and he became a crucial player for Lille.
The number 15 started 30 league matches and kept 13 clean sheets, surpassing United’s Premier League record by four.
Football commentator Ben Mattinson compared Yoro to a “young [William] Saliba” for his “dominance” and “always being in control.”
| Yoro vs Branthwaite vs Saliba 23/24 League Stats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stats | Yoro | Branthwaite | Saliba |
| Touches | 71.31 | 51.73 | 81.39 |
| Passes completed | 58.28 | 31.92 | 69.34 |
| Pass accuracy | 92.1% | 79.8% | 92.4% |
| Tackles | 1.21 | 1.91 | 1.08 |
| Interceptions | 1.21 | 1.44 | 0.76 |
| Ball recoveries | 4.18 | 5.23 | 5.61 |
| Via FBref | |||
As you can see, Yoro’s numbers are not only higher than Branthwaite’s, but also extremely similar to Saliba’s.
For starters, the child is incredibly technical, with the ability to play out of the back under pressure, as evidenced by his completed passes and touches.
What’s even more astonishing is how he keeps the ball, whether he’s shielding it with his 6-foot-2 bulk or making perfect passes at all times.
The Lille academy graduate is a strong defender with a 63% duel win rate, surpassing Saliba’s 60% and coming close to Branthwaite’s 68%.
However, you’ll observe that the two French defenders have worse stats than the Englishman, which does not reflect on their defensive talents.
Arsenal and Lille have higher possession rates (58.4% and 57%, respectively), whereas Everton has a lower rate of 40.6%.
Overall, given that Yoro might be acquired for a lower sum than Branthwaite and appears to be a greater prospect, United must do everything they can to beat the competition for his signature.
Read more at: https://sportip.co.uk