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Manchester United prepared to sign centre back amid uncertainty over Leny Yoro injury

Leny Yoro is a major doubt for the Europa League final after he went off against West Ham and did not train on Wednesday.

Yoro went off injured on Sunday

Yoro went off injured on Sunday

Ruben Amorim has indicated Manchester United will move for a centre back if Leny Yoro faces another significant period on the sidelines.

Yoro fractured the metatarsal bone in his left foot in the friendly defeat to Arsenal in late July and did not make his competitive United debut until December 4.

The 19-year-old was forced off early in the second half of United's 2-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham United on Sunday with an injury to his left foot and did not take part in United's open training session on Wednesday.

Yoro and fellow summer signing and centre back Matthijs de Ligt are both doubts for next week's Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. Centre backs Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez are also unlikely to be available.

De Ligt and Yoro will not travel to Chelsea for United's penultimate Premier League fixture of the campaign on Friday and Amorim is anxious about the duration of Yoro's lay-off.

"Leny was the same as Mattha," Amorim said. "I was thinking about next year, the squad if we need another guy, if it is a long injury. That is my concern. It is not just about the final.

"Of course, I want every player fit. But Leny Yoro in his foot, he had that problem. I was so concerned about the next season, the next squad, the way we build up the squad. That was my biggest concern. The rest will be ready for the final no matter what."

Defender Victor Lindelof will be released by United at the end of June and Jonny Evans is set to retire. Evans has not played since December 18 but Lindelof started in both legs of United's Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao.

Amorim also confirmed his decision to substitute Shaw at the same time as Yoro against West Ham was to protect a player who has completed 90 minutes only once since February 2024. Shaw is in contention to start the Europa League final amid United's injury issues at centre half.

"It was clear we cannot take a risk in several players, that was to save especially in that kind of position," Amorim explained. "It is the history (of Shaw's injuries), not what he is going to be, it is the history. And then we have to manage the minutes like Mason Mount.

"Mason Mount is ready but we are trying to build these guys a little bit longer for them to cope and then they will be okay."

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