Man Utd and Liverpool join Chelsea in French wonderkid chase

Tom Weber

4 Dec 2023 15:23 CST
3 min read

Liverpool and Manchester United have joined Chelsea in their pursuit of Leny Yoro, according to a report.

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The imperious centre-back has been a regular in Lille's defence all season despite only turning 18 in November. A standout performer in the Ligue 1 club's young, high-flying side, Yoro has caught the attention of many elite clubs, chiefly Chelsea and PSG.

Lille sit fourth in the table this term and top their Conference League group and Yoro's performances have helped to make his side's defence one of the stoutest in the French top flight. In recent weeks, the defender emerged as a potential long-term replacement for Thiago Silva at Chelsea given that the 39-year-old will most likely depart at the end of the season.

Chelsea planned to structure the acquisition of Yoro similarly to that of Malo Gusto from Lyon, allowing the player to remain with his club for the remainder of the season and then join in the summer. However, recent reports suggest that the Blues' plot could be thwarted by PSG, who have made signing Yoro a 'priority' in their bid to further 'Frenchify' their side.

Now, even more clubs are said to have joined the race to sign the youngster.

Liverpool, Man Utd interested

According to TEAMtalk, several Premier League sides have begun taking a keen interest in the 18-year-old, including the likes of Liverpool and Man Utd.

It's not hard to see why Yoro is such a sought-after commodity. In addition to his stellar performances, his contract situation makes him attractive. The youngster's deal is up at the end of next season, meaning that Lille will have to cash in on him in the summer or agree on fresh terms, something they are scrambling to do.

The report asserts that Yoro isn't the only Lille youngster being eyed by the above-mentioned clubs. 21-year-old right-back Tiago Santos has also been attracting attention, though signing him could prove tougher as he only arrived in the summer, penning a long-term deal.