Arne Slot facing early Liverpool transfer agony over $10m with Real Madrid lurking

Just over two weeks into his Liverpool tenure, Arne Slot has seemingly experienced his first transfer heartbreak.

Liverpool has shown heavy interest in Lille defender Leny Yoro, who is seen by many as one of the next great talents of his generation. At only 18 years old, he’s played in 60 matches for the French club and carved out a role on the first team.

Unfortunately for Slot, it appears that Yoro has little interest in coming to Anfield. According to the Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Lille has rejected an opening bid from the Reds worth €50 million ($53.7 million). The player, meanwhile, is believed to be interested in joining Real Madrid.

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Lille is rumoured to be holding out for €60 million ($64.4 million), and Yoro is additionally being pursued by Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, who reportedly offered him a deal that was equal to or more than what Madrid has put on the table. But the 6-foot-2 centre-back has 'already chosen his destiny' per Mundo Deportivo, as his heart is set on playing for Real.

Hope is not entirely lost for Liverpool, however. Real Madrid is allegedly not willing to pay the €60 million that Lille is looking to receive, perhaps opening the door for the Reds down the road should the two sides not be able to reach an agreement.

Since Yoro has shown no interest in signing a new deal ahead of his current contract’s expiration date in 2025, Lille has opted to field offers during his transfer window in hopes of cashing in on their young phenom.

Last season, Yoro made 32 appearances for Lille - 30 of which were starts - and netted two goals for the Ligue 1 club. He was subsequently named to the Team of the Year, as well France's Olympics Under-23 squad by head coach Thierry Henry - but he turned down the international duty so that it wouldn’t interfere with any summer transfer.

The defender’s strong showing in his first full season in Ligue 1 caught the attention of Liverpool, with Sky Sports reporting in May that Slot and co. had 'forcefully' entered the sweepstakes to acquire him. But the Reds are not alone in their pursuit of Yoro.

He isn’t the first defender that Slot has been rumoured to take a liking to. Earlier this year, Liverpool were tied to Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida and David Hancko, with the former even coming to watch the Reds face off against West Ham in a 2-2 draw.