Liverpool facing competition from Chelsea for Lille’s defensive sensation Leny Yoro

According to Spanish news outlet Fichajes, Chelsea are planning to beat Liverpool for the signing of highly-rated LOSC Lille defender Leny Yoro.

The French sensation, 18, might not have envisioned becoming a hugely coveted commodity heading into the summer transfer window. Despite his early days as a professional footballer, he is already on the radar of several big clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Leny Yoro is undoubtedly one of Ligue 1’s biggest defensive talents and his stunning development in Lille colours could lead to a scramble for his signature in the upcoming transfer window. Hailing from Saint-Maurice, he has not looked back since making his debut in the Lille senior side at the tender age of 16.

The defender racked up 44 appearances across all competitions this past campaign, with his solidity, calmness on the ball and maturity belying his age.

Fichajes claims Liverpool are actively scouring the market for a new centre-half to strengthen their defensive options for next season and view Leny Yoro as a huge talent with a bright future. The Reds have started working behind the scenes to lure the Frenchman to Anfield but face competition from Chelsea.

Chelsea released veteran Thiago Silva upon the expiry of his contract at the end of last campaign. The Brazilian was a big personality in the squad and replacing him has become a necessity for the Blues. They have started exploring potential options to find Silva’s long-term replacement, with Yoro emerging as a target.

Following the release of Joel Matip, new Liverpool manager Arne Slot currently has Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarrell Quansah as the only central defensive options in the squad to work with.

For a club that will be competing in the Champions League next season, having just three central defenders is not good enough. They must bulk up the squad by recruiting a centre-half before the 2024/25 campaign begins.

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Thus, our interest in Yoro is understandable. The Frenchman, a sublime talent with huge potential, could be an ideal long-term replacement for the ageing Van Dijk. Thus, Liverpool must do everything possible to beat Chelsea to the Lille star’s signature, although the report claims that Yoro has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid.