Nicky Butt tells Man Utd to loan out £52m star and sign replacement this summer

Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has urged the club to send Leny Yoro out on loan next season and sign another centre-half.

Rebuilding their midfield is a top priority for United this summer with Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Sandro Tonali all top targets. The club will also look to add a left winger to the squad with a new left-back also under consideration.

Butt however believes another centre-half is required to take the team to the next level. Harry Maguire has signed a contract extension at Old Trafford with he and Lisandro Martinez the first choice pairing of Michael Carrick.

Matthijs de Ligt was in fine form earlier this season but a mysterious back injury has seen him miss five months of action with no clear picture on when he will return.

Ayden Heaven and Yoro are also in the mix, regarded as a partnership for the future.

United saw off strong interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool to sign Yoro from Lille in 2024 with Butt convinced he will grow into a vital player for the club.

But with his old side hoping to be back among the Champions League elite next season, the former midfielder believes the young Frenchman would benefit from a loan switch.

With doubts also over the long-term fitness of Martinez and Maguire, Butt has the club to go out and buy ‘a top, top defender.’

‘[Matthijs] De Ligt is a top, top player, but he’s had loads of injuries and what can you do there? You can’t get rid of him because you’ll lose too much money, you’ve got to get him fit and see what he’s about,’ Butt told Paddy Power.

‘So you’ve got Harry and De Ligt. Then you’re looking at [Lenny] Yoro, I think he’s a young player who’s going to be a top, top defender.

‘But it’s too soon for him to go and try and get us to the latter stages of the Champions League. I would loan him out.

‘[Lisandro] Martinez, every time he plays he does very well, he’s a good player, he’s a proper defender, he’s good with the ball, he’s a hard little sod.

‘But he’s injured too much, so I think they’re going to have to go and look for a top centre-back.

‘I don’t think it should be the first port of call, but I think if you want to get to the level where Man Utd should be back playing, I think go and get a top centre-back. Someone like a Rio Ferdinand, a top, really established player.

‘Maguire is older and De Ligt and Martinez get a lot of injuries, Yoro is the one that does keep fit, but he’s far too young to carry the back four himself. So [Michael Carrick] needs to go out and buy a top, top defender.’