Liverpool are thought to be considering making an offer for £86.7m-rated RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande, according to a new transfer update.
This summer promises to be a fascinating one at Anfield, with incomings and outgoings expected after a hugely disappointing season.
While the core of Liverpool’s team should remain the same, with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak continuing to grow into their roles, additions are needed in key areas.
One of those is out wide in attack, with Mohamed Salah turning 34 this summer and far from certain to stay, and Cody Gakpo producing a string of frustrating performances this season.
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are the club with the “strongest” interest in Diomande, and they are “expected to make a formal approach in the coming months.”
The Reds see him as both a natural long-term replacement for Salah and a “perfect fit for their new system”, with Leipzig wanting the bidding to start at £86.7m.
Diomande a player Liverpool should go all in for
It’s no surprise to see Liverpool constantly being linked with a move for Diomande, with the 19-year-old a special talent who has already made an impact in European football.
He already has 11 goal contributions in 18 appearances for Leizipg – seven goals and four assists – as well as scoring three times in nine caps for the Ivory Coast.
Diomande has also been hailed as “one of the most sought-after young talents in world football” by scout Jacek Kulig, while Leipzig managing director Marcel Schafer has also lauded him:
“Yan is an outstanding talent, a high-potential profile and we exactly looked for this profile. Yes, it was a certain amount we spent but there were so many clubs in competition to sign him. So we are really happy, really proud to sign a young jewel.”
At just 19 years of age, Diomande still has so many years to grow as a player, but Liverpool would be signing someone who can also make an immediate impact.
Some patience would be required, in terms of consistency, but he feels like a leading contender to be Salah’s successor at Anfield, wreaking havoc on the right wing but also being capable of shining on the left.