Leny Yoro Alternative: Two Defenders Liverpool Should Target as Man United Close in on $67m Transfer – Opinion

Liverpool must consider alternatives to Leny Yoro, as the teenage Lille defender is nearing a transfer to Manchester United.

Manchester United appear to be close to finalising a deal for Leny Yoro. Consequently, Liverpool will miss out on him, prompting the need for the club to explore other options.

When Liverpool’s interest in Yoro was first reported, the ECHO highlighted that the club viewed him as a unique transfer opportunity and not necessarily a specific intent to strengthen the center-back position. However, heading into Arne Slot’s first campaign without reinforcing that position would be highly risky.

Liverpool do have existing options: Virgil van Dijk remains strong, Ibrahima Konate possesses the potential to reach the top level, and Jarell Quansah had an outstanding breakthrough season. Even with Joe Gomez available for cover, adding another player still seems prudent.

Liverpool lost Joel Matip this summer. Despite injuries sidelining him for much of last season, Matip was a first-choice player alongside Van Dijk when fit, making it crucial to find an adequate replacement.

Van Dijk remains at a high level for now, but having just turned 33, he cannot continue indefinitely. There is also uncertainty about his contract, which expires next summer.

Missing out on Yoro is undoubtedly a significant setback for Liverpool, reflecting poorly on the club. However, some argue that Manchester United have overpaid, spending $68m (£52m/€62m) for the teenager. The worst course of action for Liverpool would be to ignore the need to look at other alternatives. However, Newsnow Liverpool has picked out some options…

Antonio Silva

In Portugal, a standout defensive prodigy has emerged: Antonio Silva of Benfica. At just 20 years old, he played a crucial role in a defense that allowed only 28 goals last season. For comparison, Sporting conceded 29 goals and Porto outperformed both by conceding just 27.

Tom Kundert, an expert on Portuguese football, commends Silva for his excellent positional sense, a key quality for a modern center-back, and notes his minimal mistakes during his debut season. Although a few errors have appeared in his game, he has shown resilience in overcoming them.

One potential challenge for Liverpool in acquiring Silva could be the transfer fee, as Benfica is known for commanding high prices for their players. Liverpool clearly saw Yoro as a top young center-back in Europe and might be reluctant to exceed or match the amount Manchester United is paying to Lille.

Matthijs de Ligt

In a sense, this would only exacerbate the ongoing Yoro saga, as Manchester United has been working on a separate deal for Matthijs de Ligt. Liverpool would essentially be securing the alternative option.

However, pride should not influence transfer decisions. Although it’s natural to question why both Juventus and Bayern Munich have been willing to part ways with him, De Ligt seems to fit many of Liverpool’s needs.

Interestingly, he’s still just 24 years old. This gives him plenty of time to develop further, while also offering top-tier experience that Yoro lacks.

According to FBref, his most comparable player in Europe’s top five leagues is Virgil van Dijk. With an asking price of $55 million (£42 million/€50 million), it appears to be a reasonable deal.

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