Exclusive information from TEAMtalk reveals that a duo of defenders from Lille has attracted significant interest from heavyweight English clubs including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and West Ham.
Lille boasts one of the youngest starting elevens in Ligue 1 this season under Paulo Fonseca’s guidance. Despite their relative youth, the team sits impressively in fourth place in Ligue 1 and leads Group A in the Europa Conference League.
The spotlight falls particularly on two of Lille’s rising talents – Leny Yoro, an 18-year-old center-back, and Tiago Santos, a 21-year-old right-back. Yoro, standing at 6ft 3in, has featured in 12 of Lille’s 14 Ligue 1 matches and has been a part of their Europa Conference League campaign. On the other hand, Santos has made 11 starts across both competitions.
Santos, having earned caps at the Under-21 level for Portugal, and Yoro, with four appearances for France’s Under-21s, have contributed significantly to Lille’s resurgence as an exciting team in the league.
Their defensive prowess has bolstered Lille’s backline, conceding just 11 goals in Ligue 1, tying with PSG for the second-best defensive record this season.
English scouts have been captivated by Lille’s overall style of play and are now closely monitoring the club. However, these Premier League clubs aren’t just observing; they are genuinely interested in securing the services of Yoro and Santos.
Yoro, despite being younger, is reportedly viewed more favorably than Santos, although both have received commendations from the scouts representing the English clubs.
Yoro has been with Lille since 2017, while Santos arrived from Estoril for €6.5m in July and is protected by a long-term contract lasting five years.
With Yoro’s current contract set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, Lille faces a more precarious situation regarding their talented center-back.