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Lille youngster Leny Yoro has drawn comparison with Liverpool's famous icon after reportedly rejecting Real Madrid for Manchester United.
Highly rated Lille defender Leny Yoro has swiftly been compared to Liverpool legend Virgil van Dirk after the teenage sensation snubbed interest from Real Madrid in favour of a switch to Manchester United
As reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria, the 18-year-old has agreed to join the Red Devils in a deal worth around £52 million, despite the Spanish champions making a late attempt to hijack the move.
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Yoro as new Van Dijk
United's initial offer was accepted by Lille last week, and Yoro has now opted to continue his development in the Premier League, much to the delight of new manager Erik ten Hag.
The youngster preferred to join the European champions, but they failed to match the price tag set by the Ligue 1 outfit, paving the way for the Red Devils to swoop in.
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The towering centre-back has already been compared to Liverpool icon Virgil van Dijk, wanted in Saudi Arabia, with the Athletic describing him as a 'throwback defender' who loves to operate as the last line of defence.
Like the Dutch colossus, the Lille starlet is said to be both agile and possess an exceptional reading of the game, while also displaying composure in possession, threading passes and carrying the ball upfield.
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At just 18 years old, Yoro is expected to slot seamlessly into Erik Ten Hag's backline, offering the qualities required to make an immediate impact at Old Trafford.
The defender's statistics make for impressive reading, with a total passing distance of 10,055.7 per 90 minutes putting him in the 77th percentile, while his progressive passing distance of 328.4 per 90 ranks him in the 58th percentile.
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With 2.3 progressive passes per 90, 55.2 carries per 90, and 0.24 passes into the final third per 90, the comparisons to Van Dijk are understandable, and United will be hoping the youngster can emulate the Liverpool skipper's success at Anfield.
This latest acquisition represents a major coup for the Red Devils, who have beaten off stiff competition from one of Europe's elite, especially Real Madrid, to secure the signature of one of the continent's most highly-rated young defenders.
Yoro's arrival will become United's second signing of the summer transfer window, following the £36.5 million capture of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
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