Exclusive: Although Liverpool believes the £85 million player wants to join Real Madrid, they still adore him.
Liverpool’s recent encounters with Real Madrid have been far from pleasant. Despite numerous clashes both on and off the field, the Reds have come out on the losing end every time. The pain was compounded by Madrid’s elimination of Liverpool from three consecutive Champions League tournaments between 2020 and 2022, including defeats in two finals under Jurgen Klopp’s management. Adding insult to injury, Madrid also thwarted Liverpool’s attempts to secure transfers, notably missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni in 2022 and Jude Bellingham a year later. Journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking exclusively to Rousing The Kop, suggests that Florentino Perez could once again outmaneuver Liverpool in the pursuit of another transfer target. Despite Liverpool’s interest in signing a new center-back this summer, including reported interest in Lille’s Leny Yoro, there’s a sense of pessimism regarding their chances given their past experiences with Madrid in the transfer market.
According to recent reports, Liverpool is aggressively pursuing Leny Yoro, aiming to outmaneuver Real Madrid, PSG, and Manchester United in securing his signature. However, journalist Graeme Bailey suggests that while Liverpool holds a strong interest in the 18-year-old, they suspect he favors a move to Real Madrid. Bailey explains that English clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool admire Yoro’s talent but believe his preference is to join Madrid. Despite Liverpool’s admiration for Yoro and his potential fit in their squad as a young and promising center-back, they acknowledge that acquiring him would not be easy or inexpensive. Yoro has impressed while playing for Lille this season, showcasing his abilities in defense and earning praise for his performances. However, his reported price tag of around £85 million set by Lille indicates that acquiring him would be a significant investment for any club, including Liverpool.
While they do occasionally make exceptions, as they did in the case of Van Dijk, it doesn’t seem like a price FSG would be willing to pay, particularly for an 18-year-old. Madrid and Perez might not feel the same way. Lille, though, are not in a good situation with just one year remaining on his contract. Anything is still possible.