Report: Liverpool Named Among Suitors For ‘Supremely Confident’ Youth Int’l; £78m Release Clause | OneFootball

Liverpool are reportedly in advanced talks to sign 18-year-old French central defender Leny Yoro, with the Reds ‘ready to write a nice cheque’ to acquire the Lille defender.

According to French source le10sport, discussions with the teenager have begun with Liverpool alongside several other English clubs including both Man United and Man City.

PSG have also been linked to sign the youngster, with the source stating the French side will demand an ‘outrageous’ €90 million to acquire Yoro’s signature, with president Olivier Letang making it clear he has no intention of letting him leave this transfer window.

Letang is aware however that ‘it will be difficult to keep this player for very long’ with the hope of extending his contract still ‘very strong’.

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Yoro is currently one of the most desired players in Ligue 1, with French outlet Telefoot (as cited by Diario AS), contrastingly reporting that Real Madrid are actually the favourites to land the teenager, labelling him as the ‘next Varane’, who was also just 18 when he joined the Spanish giants.

Yoro has made 23 appearances in all competitions this season, establishing himself as a vital part of Lille’s squad in starting all but two of their league fixtures with three goals along the way. He is also the second youngest player to ever play for Lille at 16 years old and six months after taking second place from Eden Hazard in 2022.

Yoro reportedly has a £78m release clause in his contract at Lille, which is scheduled to expire in June 2025, with open bidding expected between the likes of Liverpool, Madrid, and PSG to land this highly valued teenager.

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Redmen Reacts

Stylistically Yoro has been compared to Lille teammate and French World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti, along with RB Leipzig and fellow French U21, Castello Lukeba. According to football writer and video scout, Beth Limb, Loro is ‘supremely confident’ with strengths when carrying the ball forward in a calm and composed nature, labelling him as a ‘highly talented ball playing defender’. He also offers strength in duals with good acceleration over short distances and a good defensive reading of the game. It’s clear he has all the hallmarks of being a top centre half in years to come.

With Joel Matip’s contract set to expire in the summer, Liverpool’s search for a young centre-back has well and truly begun, with several names on the shortlist including Goncalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande and Jean-Clair Todibo. In terms of whether Liverpool decide to bring one in in the remaining few weeks of the January window is unlikely, but with Yoro’s contract set to expire in 2025, he could potentially be a name The Reds decide to come back to in the near future. As for now, £78 million for a player who’s yet to mount 50 senior appearances would be a risk, but stranger things have happened.