Chelsea are eyeing a move for promising Lille defender Leny Yoro as part of the club’s summer plans to bolster the defense, with the potential departure of Thiago Silva in view.

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Yoro, 18, has had a standout season in France, catching the eye of top European clubs including Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, aside from Chelsea.

The Blues are on the lookout for a new centre-back to step in once Thiago Silva, who turns 40 in September, sees his contract expire and possibly leaves on a free transfer.

Recently, Thiago Silva has found himself on the Chelsea bench for the past two Premier League games, as manager Mauricio Pochettino navigates through an injury crisis with a thin defensive lineup.

Seen as a perfect fit for Chelsea’s long-term vision, Yoro, who has already clocked in 49 senior appearances for Lille and is a France Under-21 international, is high on Chelsea’s recruitment list. However, PSG poses a significant challenge, showing strong interest in keeping the young star within Ligue 1.

Chelsea ownership duo, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, are keen on adding two to three world-class talents under the age of 23 to each positional category as part of their ambitious strategy.

As Chelsea plan an active transfer window, the Blues have also identified Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo as alternative defensive targets.

Moreover, Chelsea are in the market for a striker and a left-back, confident in the club’s financial strategy despite posting pre-tax losses of £90.1 million last year and £121.4 million the year before, amidst Premier League financial sustainability regulations that allow a maximum loss of £105 million over three years.

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