PSG make Chelsea target Yoro ‘top priority’ after Saliba comparisons

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly made Lille defender Leny Yoro their “top priority” following his impressive start to life in senior football.

Yoro, 18, made his debut during the 2021-22 season and has become a regular alongside Jose Fonte this campaign, with 12 appearances in Ligue 1 thus far.

His form has attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs after his breakout onto the world stage.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have all taken interest in the centre-back, with the latter linked with a move for the past few months.

However, Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna has now reported that Yoro is seen as PSG’s “top priority” and the French giants are looking to beat Europe’s biggest clubs to his signature.

His 16 appearances in all competitions this season have yielded an impressive three goals, while he is now a fully-fledged France U21 international, despite being just 18.

PSG are even willing to loan Yoro back to Lille if they secure a deal, in order to beat competition from Chelsea and co.

The next best centre-back in world football?

The young defender is contracted to Lille until 2025, and the Ligue 1 side are hoping to extend his current deal amid heavy transfer interest.

He is seen as one of Europe’s most promising young defenders and was recently compared to two of the Premier League’s outstanding centre-backs.

In early November, Foot Mercato wrote: “[Yoro] never ceases to impress, to such an extent that he is of the same calibre as [Chelsea’s] Wesley Fofana or [Arsenal’s] William Saliba according to Rémy Cabella, who plays alongside him at LOSC and who knows the two French internationals well from the time he played at [Saint-Etienne].”

Although Fofana has suffered an injury-hit time at Chelsea since his €80.4m move from Leicester, Saliba has established himself as one of the world’s best defenders at Arsenal.