Rio Ferdinand has made a personal plea to Lille defender Lenny Yoro as he urged him to joined Manchester United.  

The Red Devils have had a £42million bid for Yoro accepted by the Ligue 1 side, according to reports in France.

United sources declined to comment on the reports, but the club are known to be pursuing a number of centre-back targets that include Jarrad Branthwaite and Matthijs de Ligt.

Yoro is understood to prefer a move to Real Madrid who are favourites to sign the 18-year-old defender, while Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are also tracking him.

However, Ferdinand believes Yoro should join Erik ten Hag's side instead as he compared him to Arsenal's William Saliba.

Manchester United are keen on Lille's Leny Yoro alongside Real Madrid, Liverpool and PSG

'I think Real Madrid are going to take Yoro instead [of William Saliba]. I would love him to come to Man United,' Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five podcast. 

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'If you're looking Leny Yoro, please accept and come to Man United, please. Man United, please, make the offer and please accept because this kid, I think his ceiling is as high as anybody right now, including Saliba.'

Ferdinand continued to compare Yoro to Saliba, saying: 'Physically, he's not as developed or formidable, but he's a different kind of central defender. He's quick, and he tries to nibble to get in front, he can play, he's long, tall, and mobile.'

While Real are favourites to land Yoro, they have not matched the offer of £42m plus add-ons that United are reported to have made.

After holding a recruitment meeting at Carrington on the first day of pre-season on Monday, United have wasted no time pressing ahead with their transfer plans.

Mail Sport revealed that an improved offer of £45m plus £5m in add-ons has been made for Branthwaite which was rejected by Everton who value the 22-year-old defender at closer to £70m. United are prepared to offer Branthwaite a long-term contract worth £160,000-a-week.

The club are also in talks with Bayern Munich over a £43m deal for De Ligt who is said to have verbally agreed personal terms over a move to Old Trafford and the opportunity to work with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.

United could sign two defenders to play on the left and right side of central defence, if they can sell players to finance the deals.

They have kept other options open throughout the process and known to admire Yoro who made 41 appearances for Lille last season.