Liverpool are locked in a battle with Real Madrid to sign Lille defender Leny Yoro.
The Reds are in need of a new centre-back this summer following the departure of Joel Matip at the end of the season.
With Ibrahima Konate also in poor form, there’s a feeling that Arne Slot could do with bolstering his options ahead of the new campaign.
As a result, Yoro has emerged as a key target for the Reds. However, with Real Madrid strong favourites to sign Yoro, a deal to bring the 18-year-old to Anfield is far from guaranteed.
Nevertheless, Liverpool look like they’re going to at least try and convince Yoro to move to England. And with the summer transfer window now officially open, journalist David Lynch has given a key update on the Reds’ pursuit.
Liverpool ‘definitely interested’ in Leny Yoro
Yoro has all the makings of being a top centre-back. Having made his Lille debut at just 16, the Frenchman has now amassed 60 appearances for Les Dogues.
Judging him against the likes of Liverpool’s very own defensive prodigy – Jarell Quansah – and you can see that Yoro is a cut above. Three years older than Yoro, Quansah has played 49 senior games.
The France U21 star is clearly something special. However, that inevitably means that Liverpool are facing strong competition for his signature.
The Reds never do tend to come out of scrapes with Real Madrid well. And speaking on his YouTube channel on Friday, journalist Lynch said that insiders at Liverpool are ‘pessimistic’ over their chances of landing Yoro.
READ MORE: Liverpool are trying to sign two centre-backs who could dominate for the next ten years
“Liverpool are definitely interested in Leny Yoro and are pushing for a move if they can get him in this summer,” says the reporter.
“The one thing I would say, and I don’t want to pour cold water on it completely, but the word I’m getting from the Liverpool side of things is a little bit of pessimism about the possibility of that move and that is of course because Real Madrid are involved,” Lynch adds.
“He’s very much a player that if there was a deal there to be done they’d be absolutely all over it. They really highly rate him, they think he’s a real opportunity if he does come on the market for them but that pessimism is there.
“There’s a belief that he is going to end up at Real Madrid. They are very much the strong favourites.”
Is there any chance for Liverpool?
Some may look at this situation and wonder why Liverpool are bothering at all. If the player wants Madrid and Madrid want the player, what hope is there for anyone else?
During his update, Lynch also likens Liverpool’s pursuit of Yoro to that of their failed attempt to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from under Real’s noses in 2022.
Although Liverpool wanted Tchouameni, they lost that battle and by all accounts were never truly in it.
So, some will be disappointed that the Reds have not learned their lessons from that saga. Surely it’s better to focus all guns blazing on other targets.
That may be the case, but it also seems possible here that a window of opportunity might present itself to Liverpool. Madrid look unwilling to match Lille’s valuation for Yoro with one year left on his contract.
If the Spanish giants choose to walk away based on a difference over cost, then Liverpool could swoop in. It seems unlikely, but there is still a chance.