Yoro team-mate breaks ranks to approve Man Utd transfer in glowing endorsement

Lille's Angel Gomes has backed Leny Yoro to be a huge success at Manchester United as he closes on a switch to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have reached an agreement with the Ligue 1 outfit to sign Yoro for £52million. Yoro, 18, is flying to Manchester and looking to finalise personal terms after deciding not to wait on a dream move to Real Madrid - who had been unwilling to meet the French club's asking price.

And Yoro has received a glowing endorsement from team-mate Gomes, who left United in June 2020. He has been rubbing shoulders with the youngster since and was blown away by how he seamlessly slotted into the first-team environment at Lille despite his tender age.

He previously told Eurosport “As soon as he arrived in the group, I understood that he was going to reach the summits. When I discovered the pros at the age of 16 at Manchester United, I understood that it was different. He already had the right temperament.

“That’s not normal for a 16- or 17-year-old player arriving. It’s like he’s already an experienced player and it showed in the way he trained, the way he behaved. His progress was obvious.”

Bringing in young talent has its risks, especially if they are thrown into a pressurised environment with a lack of senior pros to lean on. United though have been able to benefit from trusting youth, seeing the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho step up.

United are looking to bolster their defensive options having seen their backline struggle last term. Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Jarrad Branthwaite are all on their radar with Erik ten Hag keen to land two of the three men on his shortlist - although getting a second may depend on the futures of Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, and whether one of those can be shifted.

Lille president Olivier Letang has already made it clear that Yoro will be sold this summer. Spanish giants Madrid had been Yoro's preferred destination, but United's charm offensive has seen him come around to the idea of moving immediately - something his club, unsurprisingly, also prefer.

United's new top brass view Yoro as a player who could shine at the centre of defence for the next decade.