Liverpool have resigned themselves to losing the race for the highly-rated defender to Real Madrid

Liverpool look set to abandon their efforts to land Leny Yoro, with the Reds waiting for Real Madrid to win the race to sign the highly-rated French defender.

The 18-year-old looks set to leave Ligue 1 side Lille this summer. Liverpool, along with a host of European giants including Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, have been heavily linked with a move for the Lilla star.

However, it now appears the Reds believe Yoro will head to Spain this summer to join Real Madrid. Athletic report that Liverpool have considered whether or not to enter the market for a defender following the departure of Joel Matip.

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One of the players they considered bringing in was Yoro, who they still hold a strong interest in. However, he adds that the Reds expect Real Madrid to win the race to sign Yoro. Failure to sell this summer would see Lille lose one of Europe’s standout talents for nothing next year, with Yoro out of contract in 2025. A fee of around $54 million has been proposed for the 18-year-old .

A potential move to join the Spanish giants for Yoro would also see him link up with French skipper Kylian Mbappe as well as compatriots Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Ferland Mendy. And it would also see Real Madrid continue their efforts to bring the best young talent on the planet to the Bernabeu.

Nor is Yoro the only defender Liverpool have been linked with this summer. Links with Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori continue to linger, with Reds sporting director Richard Hughes a big fan of the Italian defender.

Liverpool currently have four first-team centre-backs in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah.

All four are excellent players, but Van Dijk turns 33 next week, Konate has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons and Quansah is still young. Therefore, while the Reds have defensive depth at centre-back, it would be pertinent for them to bring in a top-quality full-back this summer.