Man United transfer news: Spanish giants plot swoop for Leny Yoro Red in fresh transfer twist

Leny Yoro, who has been struggling at Manchester United this season, would reportedly have the opportunity to leave the English club for Barcelona. An opportunity which, if confirmed, the Frenchman must seize.

Close to a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, the centre-back ultimately left Lille, his boyhood club, to join Manchester United in exchange for a hefty fee of £52.7m. Since then, the France international has alternated between the good and the not-so-good, between the starting eleven and the bench. In the first half of the season, up until January 2026, Yoro appeared as a rotation player, without ever truly cementing his place.

In recent weeks, the 20-year-old has featured more frequently in the starting eleven, but mostly due to the absences of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt. That has not stopped Red Devils legend Paul Scholes from criticising him and calling for his departure. The Frenchman, who has been defended by Louis Saha, could well move on in the next summer transfer window.

Yoro, from Manchester United to Barcelona?

Indeed, as reported by Team Talk, which cites journalist Paddy Keogh, Yoro's agent, Jorge Mendes, is pushing for his client to depart. The Portuguese super-agent is in particular working to send him to Barcelona, while the English club are interested in Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde (22).

According to information from Sport, the LaLiga leaders are looking to land a centre-back for next season, and have particularly targeted Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), as well as a defender half the price of the Italian — namely Natan (Real Betis). And why not Yoro? Younger than the two centre-backs mentioned above, the France international is a promising prospect at his position who could appeal to the Catalan club.

Manchester United less stable than Barcelona

The former Lille man could find a more stable sporting environment at Barcelona than at Manchester United. While the English side have started to recover this season under Michael Carrick, the Catalan club are set to extend the deal of their boss since 2024, Hansi Flick, as reported on X by Fabrizio Romano.

The Barcelona dugout, with the club set to win LaLiga and competing for the title in the Champions League every year, is therefore locked down for several seasons, which is a reassuring factor for any potential signing. And Yoro also appears to have the qualities to play in Barcelona's very high defensive line, thanks to his pace and his ability on the ball.

Manchester United will, however, have to be willing to part ways with the Frenchman, and the English club must not be too greedy: the arrival of Alejandro Balde from Barcelona could help bring the asking price down. That would allow Yoro to settle into the defence of a superior team. With a view, perhaps, to making his way into the France squad of future boss Zinedine Zidane, given that the former Lille man has never been called up by Les Bleus?