Chelsea will need to step up their efforts if they want to win the race for Lille’s Leni Yoro, with those around him seeing Real Madrid as the better destination.
That’s according to Sport, who cover Real Madrid’s interest in the highly rated youngster and again present Chelsea as potential competition for them.
They explain that Real Madrid are putting pressure on Lille to sign the French defender, but their €60m asking price is seen as too expensive by those in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Spanish giants are believed to be at the front of the queue for the youngster, with Lille reluctant to sell to Paris Saint Germain, and Loro is keen on the move to link up with the various French players already there.
Madrid don’t want to match the €60m demands, though, and are instead trying to work out a deal that would potentially see him loaned back for a year in return for some of that fee being reduced.
The big risk for Lille is that Yoro’s contract expires in 2025 so if he doesn’t sign this summer, they have to sell to avoid losing him on a free in a year’s time.
PSG, Chelsea and Bayern are also interested in the defender, who they consider ‘one of the best in the world’ in his position at this moment in time.
That was also reported in Spain earlier this week, with AS claiming that Chelsea are also in the mix and among the strong suitors for his signature.
They’re convinced by the idea of a transfer, but Yoro’s entourage believe Madrid is the ‘best destination for him’ at this point.
Thus, Chelsea need to step up their efforts and start convincing him on the benefits of Stamford Bridge, perhaps taking advantage of Madrid’s reluctant to stump up the money required.
