Thierry Henry has handed Liverpool a major transfer boost after Leny Yoro’s controversial decision

Leny Yoro’s hopes of completing a big-money move this summer have been boosted by his club Lille.

Liverpool are interested in signing the 18-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, but they currently believe the centre-back would favor a move to Real Madrid. However, the Reds continue to monitor his situation and will be ready to step up their interest should the player’s potential move to the Bernabeu falter.

It’s been a quiet start to the Anfield transfer window, with Calvin Ramsay’s loan move to Wigan Athletic the only deal completed so far. With the European Championships starting on Friday and the Copa America to follow next week, players competing in both tournaments will likely have to wait before negotiating any possible changes.

READ MORE: Liverpool hold key lead in Leny Yoro transfer race despite Real Madrid interest

READ MORE: Liverpool already told who Leny Yoro will join this summer

Although Yoro was not called up to France’s squad for the Euros, he was named in Thierry Henry’s under-23 squad for this summer’s Olympics in Paris.

The football tournament will take place between July 24 and August 10. But with France Under-23s facing Paraguay in the first of three warm-up matches on July 4, their players could end up missing the entire pre-season while competing in the tournament.

Yoro’s participation in the Olympics would therefore have been a blow to any side looking to sign him this summer. Not only would they be racing against time to get a deal done before reporting for international duty, but they likely wouldn’t be able to welcome him into their ranks until the eve of the new season, with such an absence complicating any bedding down. during the period in new surroundings.

However, Lille managed to avoid such inconvenience for potential buyers by withdrawing Yoro from Henry’s squad. The French Football Federation confirmed earlier this week that the defender is one of six players who have been banned from reporting for international duty., with clubs not required to release their players for Olympic duty. Such controversy between club and country is nothing new, with the Reds facing the same dilemma as Egypt over Mohamed Salah on more than one occasion.

Liverpool will have to remain patient though if they are to have any chance of signing the defender, depending of course on the success of their own pursuit of Real Madrid. But while Olympic duty would not have come at the cost of any summer transfer, his withdrawal from the France squad has at least made Yoro a more affordable and attractive signing.