Liverpool transfers: Reds join race to sign wonderkid reminiscent of Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool have scouted highly-rated Lille defender Leny Yoro according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, but they will have to compete with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature. 

The Reds are expected to make a new centre-back one of their priorities this summer, despite the emergence of the hugely impressive Jarell Quansah last season.

After all, Liverpool have seen Joel Matip leave the club on a free transfer this summer, Virgil van Dijk will be 33 by the start of the new campaign and Ibrahima Konate has proven to be worryingly injury prone.

Therefore, it would make sense if one of Arne Slot's first acquisitions in the Anfield dugout were a centre-back, with talented 18-year-old Yoro being linked with a potential move to Merseyside after a breakout campaign at Lille.

LIVERPOOL SCOUT LENY YORO AMID EUROPEAN INTEREST

According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are among the European giants interested in Yoro's services, and have scouted the teenage sensation.

However, like competitors Real Madrid and PSG, Liverpool are still waiting to find out just how much Yoro would set them back.

Writing for CaughtOffside, Romano claimed: "As I’ve mentioned previously, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are absolutely in the race for Yoro.

"It’s also the case that Liverpool have been scouting him, but at the moment the situation is really based on what kind of price Lille will ask for – all clubs are basically waiting for that.

"Liverpool could strengthen at centre-back this summer, as I’ve reported before, but let’s see if this scouting and monitoring of Yoro turns into anything more concrete.

"For now, it’s just normal scouting of a top talent, and my understanding is that PSG and Real Madrid are very much in the race for his signature."

Romano suggests that Liverpool are currently not as active in the pursuit of Yoro as Real and PSG, but the Reds will find it difficult to compete with those two financial powerhouses in the market regardless.

Yoro is expected to cost anywhere between £50m and £100m, a price tag which is likely to put Liverpool off given his relative inexperience.

The defender, who has been compared to Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk by scout Antonio Mango, played 44 times for Lille last term, scoring three times and keeping 18 clean sheets in games he started.