French wonderkid set to leave for RECORD fee as Real Madrid and Liverpool eye transfer

Cameron Smith

• 15 Jan 2024 16:11 GMT
• 3 min read

French defender Leny Yoro is set to break a transfer record if he leaves Lille during the upcoming summer transfer window.

The 18-year-old has been the breakout star of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season and is wanted by some of Europe’s elite clubs.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have all been linked recently, with the latter three deemed to be his most likely destinations.

Previously, it has been reported that Lille would demand €90 million for the defender, while Telefoot have now stated that sources close to the player have revealed he could become the most expensive Ligue 1 defender of all time.

That current accolade belongs to Benjamin Mendy following his €57.5m move from AS Monaco to Manchester City in 2017, but Yoro is set to eclipse that fee if he seales a Lille exit this summer.

Who will Leny Yoro join?

Yoro’s agent, Samir Khiat, recently told French media that his client was a serious target for PSG, as per Get French Football News, while Real Madrid have been monitoring his progress for several months.

However, Los Blancos will not push to sign the young Frenchman during the January window, despite the ACL injuries suffered by David Alaba and Eder Militao.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently reported: “hey [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.”

Yoro remains a Los Blancos target ahead of the summer, however, as they eye a similar move to the one that saw Raphael Varane leave RC Lens to join the club as a teenager.