The transfer race for Yan Diomande is intensifying, with Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly leading the charge. An astonishing sum is being discussed.
According to The Athletic, Liverpool has actively entered the race for the highly sought-after 19-year-old winger and has initiated direct negotiations with RB Leipzig. Reports from late May also suggested that the Reds might hold the advantage in securing Diomande’s signature.
This development contrasts with recent news indicating that Diomande had already given Paris Saint-Germain the green light for a move. The player himself has commented on the speculation, stating: «I’ve been a PSG fan since childhood. I believe my father was also a PSG fan. But I’m not thinking about the future; I’m fully focused on the World Cup. We’ll see what happens afterward.»
Diomande has also expressed admiration for Liverpool in the past: «I want to play for Liverpool. I’m a big fan of Liverpool. My father dreams of seeing me play at Anfield one day. That’s my dream too, and I want to make it come true.»
Rumors of Liverpool’s interest are persistent, as the English club is reportedly seeking a new right-winger to replace superstar Mohamed Salah, who is set to depart Anfield this summer.
Liverpool and PSG Drive Up Diomande’s Price: Could RB Leipzig Secure €130 Million?
The situation, with two wealthy top clubs interested in Diomande after his impressive debut Bundesliga season, and with both clubs seemingly being the player’s favored destinations, plays perfectly into RB Leipzig’s hands. The Athletic reports that this could indeed lead to Diomande being sold for RB Leipzig’s asking price of €130 million.
If this transfer materializes, the Ivory Coast international would immediately rank as the second-highest outgoing transfer in Bundesliga history. Only Ousmane Dembele, for whom Borussia Dortmund once received €148 million from Barcelona, would have commanded a higher fee.
Red Bull Boss Advises Against Diomande Sale This Summer
However, according to Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, the German club should not sell the Ivorian, even for such a colossal sum. Mintzlaff stated in late April on Sky: «If I were the sporting director, I wouldn’t sell this young player, who hasn’t even been with us for a full season yet, regardless of the price being asked.»
Mintzlaff believes RB Leipzig’s ambition should be to retain a player of Diomande’s caliber for longer than just one year. He advised the management: «I can only advise the management to keep this player with us next year too.» He further added that Diomande «will certainly become even more expensive.»
RB Leipzig Signed Unknown Diomande for €20 Million: Raum Initially Shocked, Then Delighted
Leipzig initially acquired the then relatively unknown Diomande from CD Leganes for €20 million. This sum even surprised captain David Raum at the time. The German international shared on Sky late last year: «I looked at his market value in the summer and then checked how much we paid. I then briefly asked if we had mistyped the offer or what the problem was.»
Raum’s skepticism, however, quickly dissipated: «After the first training session, I went to Marcel Schäfer (Leipzig’s sporting director) and congratulated him on this transfer.» It’s likely that Schäfer and the Leipzig scouting department received further congratulations throughout the season.
With twelve goals and nine assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances, Diomande was instrumental in Leipzig’s return to the Champions League. After missing out on international competition entirely the previous year, the club finished the season in third place.
This may have been Diomande’s last major achievement in a Leipzig jersey.