Liverpool transfers: PSG face competition for €90m-rated Leny Yoro

Liverpool are preparing to usurp Paris Saint-Germain’s plans to sign the highly-rated young Lille defender Leny Yoro, according to reports in France. 

The Reds are in the market for defensive reinforcements this summer with Joel Matip leaving the club and injury questions surrounding Ibrahima Konate. 

Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo are among the bargain names which were linked with an Anfield move but it looks like they will be on the move to Newcastle in free transfers instead. 

That represents a blow for Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, who signed Kelly from Bristol City for Bournemouth when he was Technical Director at Dean Court. 

Goncalo Inacio was another name in the frame with the Sporting CP defender boasting a €60 million buyout in his contract. 

Another player now emerging on the Reds’ radar is 18-year-old Yoro. 

The France under-21 international has been one of the emerging stars of the Ligue 1 campaign for Lille, winning a place on the French players’ union (UNFP) team of the year, alongside another reported Reds’ transfer target in Bradley Locko.

A technically-gifted right-footer with incredible recovery speed, Yoro has been catapulted to the top of the wishlist of many of Europe’s biggest clubs. 

Liverpool rival Madrid and PSG for Yoro

Real Madrid are believed to be the player’s preferred destination but so far no deal has been done and PSG have been working on a deal since last winter, according to L’Equipe. 

Complicating the picture for the Parisians is the presence of Liverpool, however, who hope to welcome Yoro to the club this summer. 

The defender is under contract until 2025, meaning he would be available for a free transfer next summer. With no new contract in the pipeline, Lille could well be forced to cash in this year. 

Yoro is valued at between €90m and €100m by Lille but Paulo Fonseca's side have no chance of realising that sum with only 12 months left on his contract. 

Therefore there could be a deal in the offing for PSG, Real or Liverpool for a player now represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes.  

Lille have missed out on direct qualification to the Champions League group stages and therefore risk losing a windfall from participating in the newly-formatted competition.