Liverpool are battling with Manchester United for the signing of Lille centre-back Leny Yoro, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein, but Real Madrid are leading the race.
The centre of the Reds’ defence feels like an important area of focus in the summer transfer window, especially with Joel Matip leaving after eight years at the club.
Not only that, but Ibrahima Konate continues to be an injury-prone figure, while Jarell Quansah is a young player who needs to be eased in rather than expected to perform week in, week out.
A host of centre-backs have been linked with moves to Liverpool this summer, including Sporting CP pair Goncalo Inacio and Ousmane Diomande, and now it looks as though they are pushing hard to complete the signing of Yoro.
According to Ornstein on X, the Reds want to snap up the 18-year-old Lille ace, but Madrid are the front-runners to secure his signature:
“Liverpool + Man Utd actively pursuing deal to sign Leny Yoro from Lille. #LFC & #MUFC see Real Madrid as favourites but pushing hard for 18yo centre-back – viewed as unique market opportunity separate to other targets. #PSG keen too.”
Our thoughts on Yoro moving to Liverpool this summer…
Yoro is a defender of unbelievable potential, already becoming an undisputed key man for Lille, despite not yet being out of his teens.
The Frenchman made 37 appearances in all competitions for his current club in 2023/24, and in Ligue 1, he enjoyed a 92.2% pass completion rate, showing how much quality he possesses on the ball.
While Yoro will likely cost a huge amount of money, his age means that he would be viewed as a long-term investment who could even remain at Anfield for 15 years, even though such loyalty is rare in the modern game.
The threat of Madrid is obvious, not only because they won the Champions League yet again this month, but also because they have a nucleus of French players in their ranks, including Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and newly-signed Kylian Mbappe.
If Liverpool do get Yoro, however, it would feel like a massive piece of business, considering he could mature into one of the best centre-backs of his generation.