Who is Leny Yoro? The 18-year-old centre-back has been linked with Liverpool FC – Liverpool FC

Liverpool are expected to be in the market for a defender this summer, with Lille centre-back Leny Yoro linked with Anfield, but who is he?

Everything has changed at the club this summer, Arne Slott is the new head coach and key decision makers have been replaced as Michael Edwards and Julian Ward return.

It’s about shifting the power to the kicker, although all that has changed the expectation that Liverpool are looking for a new striker and defender this summer.

Eighteen-year-old Yoro has been linked with the Reds since last December, with French outlet Le10Sport name-checking the club as suitors, and now DiMarzio has done the same.

More credible reports are yet to emerge, but it stands to reason that Liverpool would be interested in the Frenchman, who already has 60 senior club appearances.

Lots of interest in the talented teenager

Yoro is 6’3″ tall and a product of Lille’s academy, rising rapidly through the ranks to make his senior debut aged just 16 in 2022.

He has since made 60 first-team appearances over the past two years, establishing himself as a reliable first-choice right centre.

Real Madrid are deserving of interest, as are Man United, PSG and Liverpool – that speaks volumes for his quality and his potential to progress.

According to Total Football Analysis, he is more of a “passive type of centre-back who prefers to provide cover and hold his back rather than bursting out of the back line and forcing engagements.”

His qualities outside of possession are said to be what make him so sought after, with his positioning and ability to read the game his obvious strengths.

Total Football Analysis added that he is “incredibly difficult for ball carriers to get past” and “tends to be incredibly tenacious when it comes to tracking down dribblers”.

As for weaknesses, right now he’s not too comfortable being forced to commit when it’s not on his terms or at chaotic times – but he’s still young and has plenty of time to improve.

Dating probably?

At the end of last year, Yoro became a client of super-agent Jorge Mendes – who is also the agent of Darwin Nunez, which immediately sparked rumors of an imminent departure from Lille this summer.

The 18-year-old is out of contract in 2025 and the French club are said to want at least £51million for the defender, with even Lille manager Paulo Fonseca believing he will move on.

“I believe that Leny will be in one of the best clubs in Europe in the next year,” Fonseca told reporters back in April, via the BBC.

“He started here at the age of 16 with us. He is very ambitious, but very disciplined.

“He has grown a lot, but he is a kid with great maturity, with great quality.

“He is very focused, very concentrated, he wants to learn every day and I have no doubt that in modern football he will be one of the best central defenders in the world.”

An intelligent young defender with plenty of potential and experience, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Liverpool felt he was worth investing in.