Chelsea is targeting Yoro Leny, a 17-year-old Lille defender.

Chelsea is keeping a careful eye on the development of Leny Yoro, a 17-year-old star from Lille, and they may use a similar bargaining strategy to secure the signings of Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto.

When the teenager made his debut near the conclusion of the 2021–2022 season, he surpassed Eden Hazard to become Lille’s second-youngest debutant. This season, he has emerged as a regular starter, playing 90 minutes in each of Lille’s final seven Ligue 1 games.

Chelsea has been chasing a lot of players in Ligue 1, having signed right-back Malo Gusto, midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, and center-backs Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi from Monaco in recent years.

Yoro has solidified his status as one of Europe’s most sought-after young defenders, and Chelsea scouts have been greatly impressed.

In fact, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund have all kept tabs on Yoro. According to sources, Manchester United and Liverpool are both aware of the 17-year-old’s growth but haven’t expressed their interest yet.

The French team, who are now fourth in Ligue 1, is eager to sign Yoro to an extension as his current deal expires in 2025.

If Chelsea decides to go after Yoro, they might try to work out a contract that would keep the defender with his present team until the conclusion of the campaign—a tactic that helped them sign Gusto and fellow Frenchman Christopher Nkunku this summer.

Yoro is being targeted by Chelsea while Trevoh Chalobah, another centre back for the Blues, gets ready to look for a move during the January transfer window.

The 39-year-old Thiago Silva’s contract, which expires at the end of the current campaign, will also require a decision. The seasoned Brazilian has been connected to a potential return to Fluminense.