Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly moved into a strong position to sign Lille defender Leny Yoro during this summer's transfer window.
The 18-year-old was a vital player for his French club during the 2023-24 campaign, making 44 appearances in all competitions, and there is currently a host of speculation surrounding his future.
Yoro is out of contract next June, and it is widely thought that he will be on the move this summer, with both Real Madrid and Manchester United keen on his services.
Liverpool are also said to be in the mix for the Frenchman, but according to French football expert Jonathan Johnson, PSG have now placed themselves in a strong spot to challenge for his signature.
"Leny Yoro is attracting interest from a number of top, top clubs at this moment in time. Liverpool are the latest to be linked, but obviously there has been long-standing interest from the likes of Real Madrid and PSG, while Manchester United have been linked as well," Johnson told CaughtOffside.
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PSG 'serious challengers for Yoro this summer'
"My latest understanding on Yoro is that he will be allowed to leave Lille this summer, they won't be standing in his way, there won't be a new contract for him.
"Obviously he'll be looking for a significant pay rise from what he's earning at the moment, but with the calibre of club he could have to choose from, it's understandable that he'd be earning more than he is at Lille. I'd also say that wherever he goes, there is a high probability that he'll walk into the starting XI.
"I do think that there's a strong argument for staying in Ligue 1 a little longer, which obviously favours PSG, but he's also very clearly a generational talent, just like Raphael Varane was at a similar age, and he managed to make the jump to Real Madrid almost seamlessly, so Yoro might be confident that he could do something similar with the Premier League or elsewhere.
"However, it is my understanding that PSG have gained a bit of ground in trying to sign him, which is a turnaround in the situation, and it will be interesting to see what they can do to convince him that the Parc des Princes is the place for him to pledge his future."
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Where will Yoro end up this summer?
Man United and Liverpool are said to lead the Premier League interest in Yoro, but it has long been thought that Real Madrid are in pole position for his signature.
There has not yet been an official move from Real Madrid, but if Nacho decides against signing a new contract, then Los Blancos will surely be in the market for a new centre-back.
Not too many clubs would fancy their chances of going head-to-head with Real Madrid for a player and coming out on the winning side, and it would not be a surprise to see Yoro move to Bernabeu.
The youngster has already made 60 first-team appearances for Lille, including seven outings in the Champions League, and he is viewed as one of the best young defenders in world football.
Despite his contract situation, it is likely that Lille would still be able to ask for around €60m (£51m).
Matt Law
