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Liverpool decided against moving for Leny Yoro earlier this month - but that decision has now been seen in a new light
Leny Yoro of Manchester United in action during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and Arsenal at SoFi Stadium (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Leny Yoro looks will miss out on an early chance to show Liverpool what they are missing after deciding against bidding for Frenchman prior to his move to Manchester United.
The Reds had expected the 18-year-old to join Real Madrid, but decided against testing Lille’s resolve once it became clear the defender would move elsewhere.
Consequently, Yoro ended up joining United in a £52m move earlier this month, with such a switch prompting annoyance in certain sections of the Liverpool fanbase with Kopites frustrated at their club’s lack of business so far.
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Ultimately, the Reds decided against making a move as they already boasted four senior centre-backs so couldn’t guarantee Yoro immediate regular first team football that he craved.
READ MORE: Anthony Gordon transfer could now happen quickly after Liverpool make intentions clear
READ MORE: Joe Gomez faces Liverpool exit decision after £45m deal confirmed in Anthony Gordon transfer package
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Meanwhile, they also couldn’t justify making an 18-year-old the second most-expensive defender in their history given the personnel already at their disposal.
Yoro would have been granted early opportunities to make Liverpool regret such a decision, with the Reds set to face Manchester United in their final game of their pre-season tour of the United States on Sunday, before meeting again at Old Trafford in the Premier League four weeks later.
However, the teenager is now set for around three months on the sidelines after he was forced off injured in the first half of their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Los Angeles last weekend.
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Officially joining United on July 18, Yoro had started both of his two friendly appearances for the club to date, partnering Jonny Evans for the first half in their 2-0 win at Rangers, before being forced off after just 35 minutes after starting alongside Harry Maguire in the defeat to Arsenal.
United remain in the market for further defensive recruitments despite Yoro’s arrival, and continue to be interested in Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
Still boasting Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Evans as their current centre-back options alongside Yoro, it remains to be seen where further recruitment would leave the teenager in the centre-back pecking order.
Yet regardless, a injury lay-off will leave him playing catch-up in hope of immediate regular first team football.
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Liverpool have no reason to be kicking themselves at not moving for Yoro yet, but the latest transfer developments at Anfield perhaps also shed new light on their reason to not bid for the former Lille defender.
While the Reds had expected the defender to join Real Madrid, they still registered an interest with the Ligue 1 side.
Yet they always regarded their interest in the defender as outside their intended business for the summer, seen as an opportunity to sign a player considered a generational talent.
Liverpool bosses did not consider a new centre-back, at present, as an immediate priority, after their interest was reported in the middle of June.
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Yet, at such a time, the Reds were in negotiations with Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon, with the Magpies later presenting an offer where Liverpool could sign the forward for £75m provided Joe Gomez went the other way in his own £45m switch.
Newcastle ultimately pulled the plug on such a deal after finding other means to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules before the June 30 deadline, with other outgoing transfer deals ensuring they were no longer in a position where they had to cash in on Gordon.
Had such a deal gone through, the Reds would have been in the market for a new centre-back, with it becoming a more immediate priority as a result of Gomez’s exit, and would have been able to provide more first team opportunities also.
They were initially in a position to pounce if Real Madrid missed out, but by the time United made their own move for Yoro, the mooted swap deal had fallen through.
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While critics could argue that Liverpool should have pushed on to sign the Frenchman regardless, that is not how the club operates.
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