Liverpool’s pursuit of Lille centre-back Leny Yoro may not be over yet, despite the player’s preference for Real Madrid. Reports suggest that a bid from another club has now been accepted, opening the door for Liverpool to make a move.
Initially, it was believed that Liverpool was only keeping an eye on Yoro in case his expected move to Real Madrid fell through. The 18-year-old has been hailed as a generational talent following his breakthrough at Lille and has his heart set on a move to Madrid. However, with no agreement reached between Lille and Real so far, there is still a chance for other clubs to swoop in.
Manchester United, one of Liverpool’s rivals for Yoro’s signature, has already made progress in their pursuit. It has been reported that Lille has accepted their bid, which is believed to be between €60 million (£50.7m) and €70 million (£59.1m). This sets the bar for any potential bid from Liverpool.
Lille is reportedly pushing Yoro to accept Manchester United’s proposal as they believe it is the best offer they have received. However, Yoro is still waiting for Real Madrid, and talks between the player and the Spanish club are said to be progressing. Lille would accept a fee of €40 million (£33.8m) plus add-ons from Real Madrid.
It remains unclear whether Liverpool will engage in a bidding war for Yoro, as their interest in him has been described as cautious rather than active. Tuesday’s developments suggest that there is no guarantee that Real Madrid will secure the Frenchman, leaving the door open for other clubs to secure the best deal.
Liverpool’s current situation in terms of center-backs adds further context to their pursuit of Yoro. With Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez on duty at the Euros, and Joel Matip having left the club, Liverpool’s options in that position are limited. Arne Slot, Liverpool’s current coach, is currently working with Jarell Quansah, Sepp van den Berg, Nat Phillips, and Amara Nallo as his center-backs in pre-season. Phillips is expected to be sold, while Nallo is likely to spend most of his season with the U21s. Any potential signing of a center-back could depend on Slot’s plans for Van den Berg and any offers received for the 22-year-old, who is valued at £20 million.