Real Madrid learn of €100m asking price for 'priority signing'
- Lille will demand a huge fee to part ways with teenage defender Yoro
- 18-year-old centre-back into the final 18 months of his contract
- PSG also keen to strike a deal for France Under-21 international
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid have been warned they will have to pay €100m (£85m) to sign Lille centre-back Leny Yoro, according to reports in Spain.
Yoro, who only turned 18 in November, already has 30 Ligue 1 starts to his name and is widely seen as one of Europe's top young defenders, with most of Europe's elite watching his development with very keen eyes.
Lille want to keep the teenager but have watched him enter the final 18 months of his contract and, with no sign of an extension at this point, are under increasing pressure to part ways with Yoro this summer.
Despite his contract situation, Lille are not prepared to lose Yoro for cheap and MARCA state the French side will demand a whopping €100m to part ways with their top young talent this summer.
Madrid aren't thought to be interested in paying such a fee for a player who, as it stands, is set to be available on a free transfer in 2025, and are prepared to play a waiting game to get their hands on their man.
As is the case with Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, Madrid are adamant they will not overpay for players on expiring contracts and they are prepared to wait until next season before making their move for Yoro.
However, the concern for Madrid is that French giants Paris Saint-Germain have also set their sights on Yoro as they seek to turn their Kylian Mbappe-led juggernaut into a team built around young, homegrown talents.
Reports in Spain suggest Yoro's preference is to play for Madrid, but a move to the Santiago Bernabeu may have to wait if that's the case.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all followed Yoro's progress in recent months but Madrid are said to be confident that they remain in control in this transfer battle, which will drag out into 2025 if Lille do not lower their demands.