Liverpool were one of many clubs keen on highly-rated centre-back Leny Yoro before his transfer to Manchester United this summer.
The 18-year-old stood out for Lille in France’s top tier last season, including coming up against Aston Villa’s Olle Watkins in the Europa Conference League and performing well.
Sources told HITC in June that Liverpool were working hard to convince Yoro to join, with Real Madrid also knocking on the door.
In the end, Yoro moved to Old Trafford for a transfer fee of up to £58.9 million (Sky Sports) and Manchester United fans were delighted.
Liverpool are the only team in the Premier League yet to make a signing this summer and Jamie Carragher stated that he is ‘glad’ his team don’t buy players like crazy.
The Sky Sports pundit then touched upon Yoro’s transfer and how his former side need a centre-back as Arne Slot embarks on his first season in charge.
Virgil van Dijk is the main guy at the back, with 21-year-old Jarell Quansah having a breakthrough campaign last term and Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez as the other defensive options.
But still, Carragher thinks Yoro wasn’t the player for Liverpool because they don’t need a ‘project’ signing, as he told Blood Red.
Carragher also questioned if the Frenchman would get enough game time on Merseyside to progress, as his comments might divide opinion amongst the fanbase.
Leny Yoro in the Premier League
“I am glad we aren’t a team who buys players left, right and centre,” said Carragher. “I love the fact that we are that. When we want to get someone, we go for him, we are clinical, and more often than not, we get it done.
“I thought that might be the case with Zubimendi, it hasn’t quite happened. I think we need two or three players, that is all.
“The Yoro one, I totally understand. Why would you pay £50-60 million for a young centre-back when we have Jarrell who has cost us nothing? Is he going to get enough football at our club that he would somewhere else? We have got Konate there. Do I think we need a centre-back? Yeah. But I don’t think we need a project and spending that type of money. If you do that, then the lad has to be playing 25-30 games a season to progress his career. I am sure that’s what they have said at Manchester United. ‘You might not be the first choice, but as soon as someone is injured, you are in and you will get your 25-30 games’, so it was the right decision not to go through with that.”
Leny Yoro’s injury
Manchester United have learnt the extent of Yoro’s injury, as their luck is completely out after paying big bucks for the defender.
Anyhow, Liverpool fans should be fuming that they didn’t sign Yoro because he would have enhanced their defence for the long term.
READ MORE: 50 MOST LIKELY PREMIER LEAGUE, EFL AND EUROPEAN SUMMER 2024 FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
Yes, Arne Slot has Quansah to pick from, but Gomez hasn’t played or performed at centre-back for a while now, whilst Konate can’t stay out of the treatment room.
Added to that, van Dijk is out of contract next summer and you question what the plan is with the Dutchman.
Ally McCoist has been left stunned that van Dijk hasn’t been offered a new Liverpool deal, with the Dutch star set to turn 34 next year.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
