Chelsea and Man Utd Compete for French Wonderkid, ‘Real Madrid’ Hijack Attempt
The battle for French wonderkid Leny Yoro is heating up, with a trio of Premier League clubs vying for his signature. Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid are all in the running to snap up the 18-year-old defender from Lille.
Yoro has been making waves in his homeland, impressing with his performances for Lille’s first team. His talent has earned him comparisons to Manchester United’s French World Cup-winning star, Raphael Varane, hence the nickname “the new Raphael Varane.”
Liverpool had also shown interest in Yoro as a potential long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk. However, it seems that Chelsea and Man Utd have emerged as serious contenders for his signature. Paris Saint-Germain is hoping to keep him in Ligue 1, but it remains to be seen if they can fend off the competition from the Premier League and Real Madrid.
Real Madrid’s interest in Yoro comes after securing the services of another teenage sensation, Endrick, who scored Brazil’s winner against England. The Spanish giants are looking to inject youth into their aging backline and see Yoro as a perfect addition to their ranks.
Chelsea has been closely monitoring Yoro’s progress and is keen to bring him to England. Bayern Munich has also expressed interest in the young defender. However, AS claims that Real Madrid is currently leading the race to sign him.
Lille was determined to hold on to Yoro during the January transfer window and succeeded in doing so. However, with the player entering the final 12 months of his contract, it may prove more challenging to keep him in the summer. The French U21 international’s price tag was initially reported to be £85m when PSG inquired two months ago, but it has now been reduced to £51m, making him potentially the most expensive defender ever sold by a Ligue 1 club.
Yoro’s manager at Lille, Paulo Fonseca, has high hopes for the young star. He has described Yoro as a very mature player with a great future ahead of him. The defender’s talent and potential have caught the attention of top clubs across Europe, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up next season. Whether it’s Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, or another club altogether, Yoro is a player to watch out for in the coming years.