Man Utd & Chelsea given hope in pursuit of WORLD CLASS talent better than Colwill

Cameron Smith

• 14 May 2024 21:00 BST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid’s chances of signing Lille wonderkid Leny Yoro have reportedly taken a massive hit and the Frenchman is now unlikely to join Los Blancos this summer.

Yoro, 18, has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid for several months and a summer switch was deemed to be a very likely scenario, with the player himself keen on joining the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.

However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are reportedly eager to avoid overpaying for Yoro and Cadena SER have reported (via Football Espana) that the teenager will be too expensive for the Spanish giants.

READ MORE: Who is Leny Yoro? The France wonderkid wanted by Real Madrid, Chelsea & Man Utd

As a result, the Lille starlet is unlikely to join Real Madrid this summer, with Los Blancos set to integrate Rafa Marin into the first-team squad instead. The 21-year-old Spaniard has impressed on loan at Alaves this campaign and he could return to the Santiago Bernabeu if Yoro doesn’t arrive.

Manchester United and Chelsea have both been linked with a move for Yoro previously, while Paris Saint-Germain saw a January bid turned down by Lille. The Ligue 1 giants are expected to return for the Frenchman this summer and both Premier League clubs will also be buoyed by news that Yoro may not be Real Madrid-bound.

READ MORE: Osimhen edges 'closer' to Chelsea as Napoli eye Premier League's most IN-FORM player

Leny Yoro’s immense potential

According to data analytics experts SciSports, Yoro has the fourth-highest potential of any centre-back in world football.

Yoro has a SciSkill potential rating of 138.0, which can only be beaten by William Saliba, Giorgio Scalvini and Alessandro Bastoni. The Lille star’s potential is rated higher than the likes of Castello Lukeba (125.5), Jurrien Timber (12.7), Josko Gvardiol (132.0) and current Chelsea starlet Levi Colwill (137.7).

Yoro has made 43 first-team appearances in all competitions so far this season, scoring three goals, and he has been heavily likened to Manchester United defender Raphael Varane, who will leave Old Trafford this summer.