How Man Utd can replace Leny Yoro for start of the season

Manchester United just cannot catch a break when it comes to injuries.

Erik ten Hag's job hung in the balance after a 2023/24 campaign which was ravaged by injuries to some key first-team stars, though the Red Devils hardly helped themselves with some less than auspicious showings.

Mass injury blows saw Casemiro filling in at the back towards the end of the season but United moved quickly to snap up French teenager Leny Yoro, beating Champions League holders Real Madrid to his signature. However, the promising centre-back has been left reeling after suffering a foot injury which will consign him to the sidelines for three months.

The Red Devils had hoped to head into the new term with a refreshed centre-back partnership, but instead Ten Hag will have to go back to the drawing board. So how can the Dutchman accommodate the loss of his summer signing at the start of 2024/25?

Find an in-house replacement

Quick to close down space and boasting plenty of recovery pace, Yoro has a fairly distinct centre-back profile compared to United's other options.

The style of play is often implemented by the centre-back partnership and, given the Red Devils often had to start either Harry Maguire or Jonny Evans last season, it's clear to see why they had major issues in certain departments. While not 'bad' defenders, the Englishman and Northern Irishman are much more comfortable with their backs to the wall rather than trying to set the tempo.

Yoro's injury leaves Ten Hag without a like-for-like replacement to partner Lisandro Martinez, so any planned tactical change might have to wait until he is fully fit again at the end of October or early November, but United have seasoned central defenders who can fill in until the teenager is ready again.

Potential lineups

• Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw
• Dalot, Evans, Martinez, Shaw
• Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw

Make another splash in the transfer market

United made a big bet on Yoro by signing him for £52m but there's every chance the club could dip their toe back into the transfer market and pursue another option in defence.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been heavily linked with the Premier League giants, who have seen a couple of bids knocked back for the Everton star, while Matthijs de Ligt is also of interest. The Dutchman had an indifferent season along with the rest of Bayern Munich's squad, who had to watch on as Bayer Leverkusen stormed their way to the Bundesliga title.

If Ten Hag isn't happy starting the season with Maguire, Evans or Victor Lindelof, he might push Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos towards bringing another centre-back in.

Potential lineups

• Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Shaw
• Dalot, Branthwaite, Martinez, Shaw

Sign an effective defensive midfielder

United were infamous for leaving a gaping hole in front of their defence throughout the 2023/24 season. Casemiro's form was all over the place while breakout star Kobbie Mainoo is still learning the defensive tricks of the central midfield trade.

The Red Devils are said to be keen on signing a new midfielder this summer, with Manuel Ugarte frequently touted as an option, and bringing someone in to cover the aching chasm that was vacated last term would be a massive boost structurally.

If Ten Hag is happy sacrificing attacking creativity in favour of a more secure core, he could even partner Casemiro with a new defensive midfielder. That said, more improvement is undoubtedly needed on the Brazilian's part to make the system work.

Former loanee Sofyan Amrabat is another option that could be revisited during the window, but the Moroccan's displays for the majority of the campaign were underwhelming.

Potential lineups

• Ugarte, Mainoo; Fernandes
• Ugarte, Casemiro; Fernandes
• Casemiro, Amrabat; Fernandes

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