According to Ben Jacobs, Premier League Liverpool and Manchester United are the current favourites to sign Lille defender Leny Yoro even though he has been heavily linked with Real Madrid.
Madrid is very keen to add Yoro to their squad this summer and Carlo Ancelotti thinks the young defender has a long future ahead of him. However, the Spanish giants are moving at a snail’s pace and according to Jacobs, Manchester United and Liverpool are trying to use this to their advantage.
The journalist has told GIVEMESPORT: “I think with Leny Yoro, Liverpool are one of the clubs – along with Manchester United – that are really keen.
“I’m not aware of a formal bid at this stage, but the feeling from both Liverpool, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain – who tried for Yoro in January – is that Yoro wants Real Madrid.
“And the only thing the Premier League clubs have got which is an advantage, is they are prepared to pay a little bit more than Real are, and that gives them a stronger negotiation stance to go to Lille with.
“But the reality is that Lille have to be careful because if Real can’t agree a fee with Lille and Yoro only wants Real, then he can wait a year and ultimately move as a free agent.”
Are Liverpool and Man United serious about signing Leny Yoro?
Man United badly need a new central defender but for the time being, Erik ten Hag is focusing on some more experienced centre-backs. Initially, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite was their number one target and now, as per rumours, United are said to be very close to signing Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich.
Currently, Manchester United are keeping Leny Yoro as an alternative option and if they can land both De Ligt and/or Branthwaite, there’s no way they will go back for the Lille defender.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are seriously considering a move for Leny Yoro because Arne Slot is planning to reshuffle his defensive line and an 18-year-old central defender will fit perfectly into his long-term plans. Joel Matip has left and Van Dijk has also entered the final year of his contract so in such a scenario, Liverpool have to look at various long-term replacements.
Will Real Madrid miss out on the Lille centre-back?
Even though Man United, Liverpool and PSG have shown heavy interest in Leny Yoro, multiple reports have made it clear that the French U23 international wants Real Madrid to be his next club.
Lille want to bag around €60-70 million for the prodigy but the La Liga champions are reluctant to pay such a steep fee for the 18-year-old. The Los Blancos feels that Lille are asking too much but if they seriously want to bring him on board then Perez will have to meet the French club’s demands.
Liverpool, Man United and PSG won’t mind paying €60-70 million and this is their major bargaining chip right now. Leny Yoro won’t mind waiting for Madrid but if the Los Blancos do not make any concrete moves within the next couple of weeks, the 18-year-old might very well start listening to what the other suitors have to offer.
On paper, this might not look like a big miss for Madrid because they have players like Militao, Rudiger and David Alaba but if someone like Leny Yoro can come good at the Bernabeu then Perez won’t have to think about signing a new CB for the next five to six years.
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