Manchester City make ‘very concrete move’ for Liverpool and PSG January defensive target

Manchester City have taken steps towards signing Lille defender Leny Yoro, according to a report from France.

The 18-year-old has been subject to transfer interest from both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain after impressing during the opening months of the campaign, with Manchester City also targeting a potential move for the teenager.

Yoro is the latest Ligue 1 youngster to be linked with a potential move to the Etihad Stadium, with Manchester City having signed Jeremy Doku from Stade Rennais in the summer, and having been recently linked with Arouna Sangante of Le Havre.

The central defender has become a mainstay for Lille so far this season, making 21 appearances across Ligue 1 and the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Yoro’s performances have alerted European heavyweights Liverpool and PSG, with Manchester City also making a ‘very concrete move’ to sign the teenager this month, according to a Le10 Sport report relayed by Sport Witness.

Manchester City have reportedly contacted both the player’s agent and Lille, initiating ‘first discussions’ for a potential January deal, with Pep Guardiola bidding to bolster his central defensive options.

Yoro is contracted until 2025 at Lille, with the French club seeking to negotiate a new contract for the 18-year-old amid interest from the Sky Blues and a host of other clubs.

City have made a reported a ‘firm effort’ to try and sign the defender, with Etihad chiefs also seeking to conclude a deal for fellow teenage talent Claudio Echeverri.

Echeverri is set to follow in the footsteps of Gabriel Jesus and Julian Alvarez, with the latter having helped Manchester City to five trophies in 2023, including most recently the FIFA Club World Cup.

The 17-year-old is expected to sign for the treble-winners before returning to current club River Plate on loan.