Graham Ruthven: Leny Yoro statement signing highlights how Dan Ashworth and INEOS are already changing Man Utd

LENY Yoro had his pick of Europe’s biggest clubs. Real Madrid were particularly keen on the 18-year-old defender, but Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain had also been linked. Instead, Yoro joined Manchester United in a transfer worth £52m. The value of the statement made by the Old Trafford club in pulling off this signing, however, was far greater.

Yoro’s transfer says something about new approach being adopted by United. The club, now under new management following the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS as minority owners earlier this season, is operating in a more precise way. After years of stagnation under the Glazers, there is good reason for Manchester United supporters to be encouraged. 

In the past, United have looked for silver-bullet transfers. They were attracted by the name of the player rather than the profile of the player, but that has now changed. Yoro was targeted for his potential, but also his ability as a technically-able, ball-playing centre back with Jarrad Branthwaite targeted for the same traits.

“For the first time, after just one training [session], it’s a very mature performance,” Erik ten Hag said about Yoro’s debut performance against Rangers. “That’s what we saw when we scouted him. It’s great to have him. He’s a very young, talented ­centre‑back and there’s a lot to come. He’s here, we think he can play but there’s so many games that he’ll be in a group of four or five defenders.”

 

Joshua Zirkzee’s signing similarly highlighted how things have changed at Old Trafford this summer. Indeed, United were quick to move for the attacker once the Netherlands had been knocked out of Euro 2024 with Zirkzee’s €40m release clause activated to avoid any sort of bidding war with other interested clubs.

United have also moved quickly to push players out of the club with Mason Greenwood sold to Marseille, Willy Kambwala shipped to Villarreal and Donny van de Beek finally allowed to leave for Girona. Jadon Sancho could be next to leave with PSG apparently interested in the winger who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

🇫🇷🗣️ Leny Yoro: "I was a striker before.""A lot of people compared me to Nani when I was young, because I was fast like him."I love this player. For me it was a target to be like him. Now this is not the same because I am a defender, but he was my player." pic.twitter.com/9mjTiOaYBj

— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) July 22, 2024

Too often under the Glazers it felt like Manchester United were unable to focus on more than one thing at any one time. This summer, they have several plates spinning. This is directly linked to the building out of the front office at Old Trafford which is now being led by Dan Ashworth with Jason Wilcox also a key part of the new structure. The INEOS revolution at Manchester United is getting started.

With Yoro and Zirkzee already signed, United are now focussing on other targets. Manuel Ugarte has been strongly linked with the Old Trafford club while Dani Olmo is another player believed to be on their radar. It’s possible De Ligt could still end up at Manchester United even after the signing of Yoro.

 

Of course, United’s transfer business will be judged on the impact it has on the team itself. Ten Hag’s team finished a lowly eighth in the Premier League last season and must make significant strides forward to satisfy the ambition of the new leadership now in place at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe wants to return the glory days to Manchester United.

In Yoro, they have a player who could set the precedent for this. The French teenager’s signing makes clear that Manchester United is once again a place for the game’s best talent. Other players will look at Yoro’s decision to join the Old Trafford club and draw encouragement that United are heading in the right direction.

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