Liverpool are prepared to offer up to €86 million (£75m) for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande this summer, according to a report in The i Paper. The potential transfer comes as Liverpool seek a replacement for Mohamed Salah, who will depart Anfield at the end of the current season following Sunday’s match against Brentford.
The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international has emerged as a key target for the Reds, with The Athletic reporting extensive scouting of the player. Diomande has enjoyed a breakout season in the Bundesliga, registering 12 goals and six assists, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young wingers in Europe.
Liverpool’s interest in Diomande is reportedly linked to their desire to improve the form of Alexander Isak, who arrived last summer for a club-record fee of €143 million (£125m). Isak has struggled to make a significant impact in his first season, scoring just four goals in 22 appearances, partly due to injury setbacks. The club believes Diomande could provide the creativity needed to unlock Isak’s potential, mirroring the successful partnership Isak previously enjoyed with Jacob Murphy at Newcastle United.
However, Diomande is not Liverpool’s only attacking target. The i Paper also reports interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Diomande’s Leipzig teammate, Antonio Nusa. L’Equipe have also suggested that Liverpool are monitoring Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, who is valued at around €50 million (£43m). RB Leipzig are reportedly holding out for a fee of €97 million (£85m) for Diomande, according to The Athletic, potentially complicating negotiations.
Liverpool will be hoping to secure Champions League football for next season when they face Aston Villa today, and the addition of a player like Diomande would signal their ambition for the next campaign. The player himself has acknowledged the motivation that comes with being linked to top clubs, telling The Athletic that such speculation “gives me a lot of motivation to see people talking about me.” Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Diomande, adding another layer of competition to the potential transfer.
