(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Manchester United are slowly conceding that Leny Yoro may not be the right fit long-term at the centre of defence.
While still only 20 years old, Yoro has yet to nail down a starting spot since signing for the club in the summer of 2024, and the situation looks unlikely to change this season.
How Leny Yoro is faring as of late
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Leny Yoro of Manchester United celebrates his team's first goal, an own goal by Rodigo Muniz of Fulham (not pictured), during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The centre-half has not started a Premier League game this campaign. What’s more concerning, though, is that he has been an unused substitute for three whole matches in the opening five gameweeks.
He featured for 16 minutes in the win over Ipswich Town and for just six minutes in the draw with Everton, before being left out for the subsequent two outings against Manchester City and Fulham.
Leny Yoro made two crucial blocks to keep Man United in the game against West Ham 🧱 pic.twitter.com/KghQNjiq64 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 11, 2026
Yoro’s only two starts have instead come in United’s Champions League opener and in last week’s dismal Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, the latter of which saw him and partner Ayden Heaven come under fire for their lacklustre performances.
"So poor, this isn't a five-a-side competition""If that doesn't change, they won't play for Man United again" Jamie Redknapp criticises the defending of Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro 🔴 pic.twitter.com/DG4i3G8MyU — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 16, 2026
What are United thinking about Yoro?
SOLNA, SWEDEN - AUGUST 1: Leny Yoro of Manchester United during warm ups prior to the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and Atletico de Madrid at Strawberry Arena on August 1, 2026 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
United agreed a £58.9 million package with Lille to bring the youngster to Old Trafford just over two years ago, beating the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to his signature.
Now, TeamTalk claims Yoro is ‘playing for his United future’ as the term progresses – and he certainly hasn’t got off to the best start.
His already reduced game time could also come even further under threat when Matthijs de Ligt returns from injury in the coming months, given Yoro would then rank behind the Dutchman, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, and perhaps even Heaven.
The outlet adds: “The likes of Lecce’s Tiago Gabriel, Stuttgart’s Finn Jeltsch and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite are among the defenders on United’s radar as they continue to assess their options for the future.”
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