Lille set EYE-WATERING Yoro asking price as Chelsea & Man Utd given transfer hope

Cameron Smith

• 2 Jan 2024 21:28 GMT
• 4 min read

Lille have reportedly set a €90 million asking price for French wonderkid Leny Yoro as he continues to be linked with a big-money move away.

Yoro, 18, has been one of the standout players in Ligue 1 this campaign and his emergence onto the senior stage has been noted by many top clubs in Europe.

Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all been linked with a move for the France U21 international, while Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are keen too.

Now, interested parties will be buoyed by news that Real Madrid have decided against signing a new centre-back in January.

Los Blancos were one of the frontrunners to sign Yoro, but this has opened the door for someone else to snatch him this month.

Real Madrid are still monitoring the centre-back market, and Yoro likely remains a target, but their decision to hold off adding a new body in that position may present an opportunity for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs to pounce.

According to Fichajes, Lille have set their asking price at €90m for the 18-year-old, which is likely to put off suitors, but he is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe and given Real Madrid’s prowess in the French market, clubs would be wise to use this opportunity to sign Yoro right in front of their noses.

Real Madrid don’t want to sign a centre-back in January - Fabrizio Romano

Ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga clash against Mallorca on Wednesday evening, Carlo Ancelotti revealed that Los Blancos would not be signing a new centre-back in the January window.

His comments during the pre-match press conference came following the ACL injury suffered by David Alaba in December. Eder Militao is also missing due to an ACL injury, leaving Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez as the only senior centre-backs available to Ancelotti.

However, Real Madrid will not be signing a new centre-back in January, leaving others in pole position to sign Yoro this month.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano: “They [Real Madrid] had a conversation internally with all of the people involved in the club - the directors, the president and Ancelotti - and at the moment, for Real Madrid, it’s a no.

“They will keep scouting centre-backs, including the important centre-backs for the summer, young talented centre-backs. So, Real Madrid are working on the centre-back market but as Ancelotti said, they have decided against signing a new centre-back now because they believe there is still no right opportunity on the market.

“The idea of signing a centre-back at Real Madrid exists, but this is not for January as they don’t see the right option.”