Liverpool, Manchester United and Man City are among the clubs linked with RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande.
Director for sport Marcel Schäfer has insisted that Red Bull Leipzig hold all of the bargaining chips when it comes to the future of Yan Diomande.
The winger has enjoyed a sensational maiden campaign at Die Roten Bullen since his arrival from CD Leganes in the summer transfer window. Diomande has fired seven goals and four assists, while he helped Ivory Coast reach the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
Diomande's performances have meant hes been linked with several clubs. Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on the 19-year-old, along with, Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
Leipzig are a club that are open to sales. Liverpool have purchased Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai from the Saxony outfit, while the likes of Xavi Simons (Tottenham), Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) and Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) have departed for vast transfer fees.
Leipzig are likely to know that Diomande will be the next of their prized assets to make them a substantial profit, having been purchased for around £18 million and is now said to be valued in the region of £80 million.
Speaking at a media round-up, Scahafer was asked if Leipzig are in the 'front seat' when it comes to Diomande's future. He replied via bullinews.com: “There isn’t even anyone sitting in the passenger seat. Everyone is sitting in the back seat."
Klopp gives ‘go, go, go’
Diomande has enjoyed a meteoric rise, considering he was playing high-school football in the USA just two years ago. Having been rejected by Scottish giants Rangers after a trial, he spent just six months at Leganes before being snapped up by Leipzig.
But despite his inexperience, Die Roten Bullen were convinced that Diomande would be a hit. Those who were adamant he could thrive in the Bundesliga was former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who is Red Bull's head of global soccer. Klopp, along with former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez, gave Leipzig the green light to sign the teenager.
“We saw the data and immediately knew that we had to take a detailed look at the player, both on video and in live matches, and that’s what we did,” Schafer added. “Our advantage was that we were there before he had even played 200 minutes in the league. We already knew he had the profile we were looking for that summer.
“We didn’t need to have five conversations about signing him because the profile was clear. It was a 100 per cent match from our side. It was clear to us that if we had the chance, we would go for it. When we started negotiations with Leganés, they said there was such high competition for the player that we needed to pay that amount if we wanted him.
“Leganés were clear, honest and transparent. It was a huge amount given where the player was at the time, but we knew he was our number-one favourite. We wanted the player, even if we had to pay a little more than many expected. We didn’t care, because it was an ideal situation. We were even in touch with Jürgen Klopp and Mario Gomez, who saw the data and video clips, and everybody said ‘go, go, go.’”
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