Real Madrid will not offer more than €40m for key target as chief scout leads talks

After bidding farewell to former Real Madrid captain Nacho Fernandez and completing the sale of Rafa Marin to Napoli, the club has ramped up its pursuit of a central defender.

As it stands, Leny Yoro remains their priority target for the position. Los Blancos have been tracking the teenager throughout 2024 and intends to accelerate the process as the summer transfer window reaches a crucial stage.

The ball is in Yoro’s court

Providing an update on the situation, AS have come out to report that Real Madrid chief scout Juni Calafat is leading the negotiations for Leny Yoro with French side Lille.

Juni Calafat has the full backing of the club’s top brass. The Real Madrid hierarchy considers the recent signings of young French players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga as significant successes, further incentivizing the pursuit of Yoro.

Given Calafat’s successful recruitment track record, having expertly secured the likes of Fede Valverde, Martin Odegaard, and Vinicius Jr, his involvement in the pursuit of Yoro bodes well for the club.

Real Madrid have set their price

Lille has reportedly accepted Manchester United’s €55 million bid for Yoro, but the deal is on hold due to the player’s preference to join Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid does not wish to pay more than €40 million for Leny Yoro, which is below Lille’s asking price.

There is a significant gap between Madrid’s and Lille’s positions, so Real Madrid is leaving the decision in the hands of the player.

The 18-year-old has two options: push for the transfer to happen this summer or stay in France for another season and join the Merengues on a free transfer in 2025.

Time will tell if the move materializes this summer, but given Real Madrid’s lack of options in defence, they will likely maximize their efforts to get the deal over the line.