Yan Diomande will not be joining Liverpool this summer, opting instead to pursue a move to Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports from The Athletic. Liverpool had identified the RB Leipzig forward as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, who is set to depart Anfield after nine seasons with the club, having scored 257 goals and provided 123 assists.
Liverpool were prepared to offer €100 million (£86.8m) for Diomande, but this fell short of Leipzig’s €130 million (£112.1m) valuation. However, the financial aspect appears to be secondary to Diomande’s personal preference. Transfer insider David Ornstein reports that the Ivorian international is keen to work under PSG manager Luis Enrique, believes the French club offers the best opportunity to win major trophies, and harbours ambitions of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Diomande seemingly feels PSG provides the optimal environment to achieve these goals. The 26-year-old has established himself as a key player for Leipzig, contributing consistently in the Bundesliga and Champions League. His decision represents a significant setback for Liverpool, who are now forced to reassess their attacking options following Salah’s departure.
As a result of missing out on Diomande, Liverpool have turned their attention to German under-19 winger Said El Mala, who plays for Cologne. He is valued at approximately €50 million (£43.1m), significantly less than Leipzig’s asking price for Diomande. However, Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in El Mala, and the player’s representatives have added complexity to potential negotiations by requesting that his brother also be included in any deal.
Elsewhere, Inter Milan have informed Liverpool they are unwilling to meet their asking price for midfielder Curtis Jones. Inter consider a £34 million valuation unrealistic given Jones is in the final year of his contract and have offered £21 million, signalling their willingness to walk away from negotiations if Liverpool do not lower their demands.
