Liverpool may just have been handed Leny Yoro transfer boost amid Real Madrid decision

Liverpool needs a new center-back above any other position that it could possibly strengthen in the transfer market this summer. And now, it might have been handed a boost in its pursuit of Lille defender Leny Yoro.

According to the Spanish outlet AS, Real Madrid is reluctant to meet the $54m (£42m/€50m) asking price for the 18-year-old. Los Blancos will only pay a maximum of $43m (£34m/€40m) for the wonderkid, whose contract with the Ligue 1 side expires next summer.

Given that he could potentially be snapped up for free in 2025 as things stand, Real Madrid is not keen to spend huge money right now after splashing out on Kylian Mbappe. It is also chasing Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies, though the Canadian is another who it could pick up for free if it waits for another season.

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Could that supposed decision from Real Madrid allow Liverpool back into the race for Yoro? Perhaps. But Yoro, it was claimed by the Daily Express earlier this week, only wanted a move to La Liga and that he had decided against a switch to the Premier League.

Liverpool would need to be convinced that Yoro was happy enough to make the move to Anfield and give him a strong pitch as to why he should come to Merseyside instead. The Frenchman will want a route to minutes and that could come sooner with the Reds after they lost Joel Matip at the end of his contract.

Yoro, despite being so young, played more than 3500 minutes for Lille last season in all competitions, amassing a total of 44 appearances. At Liverpool, he could become a rotation option alongside Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah, battling to become the regular partner for Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool.com says: Real Madrid is in no hurry to sign Yoro and get the deal done because it is assured that the player only wants a move to the Bernabeu. That suggests that remains the most likely scenario this summer.

But if it came to it, would Yoro do another year at Lille before moving on a free? Given he is so young, that wouldn't be the worst thing. As it stands, it feels most likely that Liverpool will need to look elsewhere this summer to strengthen its backline.