Transfer Centre

Lille president rules out January exit for Liverpool, Man Utd-linked Leny Yoro

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 25 January 2024

Lille president rules out January exit for Liverpool, Man Utd-linked Yoro

Lille president Olivier Letang shoots down talk of a January exit for 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro amid links with Liverpool, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Lille president Olivier Letang has insisted that teenage defender Leny Yoro is not for sale in January amid links with several European heavyweights.

At just 18 years of age, Yoro has already established himself as a crucial player in the heart of Paulo Fonseca's backline, making 40 appearances for Lille in all tournaments.

The 2005-born centre-back has come up with three goals and one assist for Les Dogues in that time, with two of those strikes coming in 17 Ligue 1 appearances during the 2023-24 season.

Yoro has been named in the first XI in each of Lille's last 16 top-flight affairs, helping the 2020-21 champions keep nine clean sheets thanks to a spate of eye-catching defensive performances.

Thanks to the efforts of the 6ft 3in defender, Lille sit fifth in the Ligue 1 table - only three points behind Brest in third place - and they topped their Europa Conference League group without suffering a single defeat.

Lille coach Paulo Fonseca reacts on December 14, 2023 © Reuters

Yoro's displays have inevitably attracted glances from some of Europe's biggest names, and Lille could soon come under pressure to sell the teenager, whose deal only has 18 months left to run.

All of Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are said to be keeping tabs on Yoro's displays, while a report from L'Equipe claims that Paris Saint-Germain are formulating a €50m (£42.8m) approach.

Despite Yoro's uncertain contract situation, Letang has affirmed in an interview with Le Parisien that Les Dogues have no intention of parting ways with the defender this month, saying: "Leny Yoro will not leave in January. So there are no negotiations and no discussions, contrary to what some are saying."

Letang was pressed on the Yoro links for a second time by L'Equipe, in which he reiterated his stance and revealed that he has turned down the chance to speak with potential suitors this month.

"Our position hasn't changed. There are no discussions in January. I have refused to discuss a transfer with interested clubs because I want us to concentrate on the sporting side, and on the objective," Letang added.

Liverpool's Joel Matip receives medical attention after sustaining an injury on December 3, 2023 © Reuters

While a January transfer is ostensibly off the cards, Lille may have little choice but to offload Yoro in the summer should negotiations over a new contract fail to bear fruit, and both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich could also try their luck ahead of the 2024-25 season.

A space will open up in Liverpool's defensive ranks if Joel Matip departs over the summer, as the ex-Cameroon international is now in the final six months of his Anfield contract, allowing him to speak to foreign clubs.

Should Matip indeed end his successful Merseyside stint at the end of the season, he may have already played his final game for Liverpool, as he suffered a campaign-ending ACL rupture in December.

However, Jurgen Klopp is optimistic that Liverpool will offer Matip a short-term extension, telling a press conference last month that the club should "show their class" after his devastating injury.

Meanwhile, Man United are said to be open to summer offers for all of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane, the latter of whom is also due to become a free agent in June.