Liverpool are preparing to step up their interest in RB Leipzig rising star Yan Diomande in the coming months, according to reports.
The Anfield side are among a host of Premier League and European clubs keen on signing the 19-year-old, who has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season.
While Leipzig are reluctant to entertain Diomande’s mid-season departure, they are expected to be more open to selling the ‘outrageous’ winger once the campaign concludes.
The German club have reportedly informed all interested parties that any talks over a deal for Diomande will only begin at €100m (£87m) and are in a strong negotiating position, with the winger under contract until June 2030.
Liverpool Eyeing Move for Yan Diomande
Yan Diomande
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool’s interest in Diomande is currently the strongest, with the Reds expected to make a concrete bid in the coming months.
Arne Slot’s side have also been boosted in a potential bidding war by Diomande himself, who has revealed that he is a big Liverpool fan and wants to play for the club.
Diomande’s impressive early displays in the Bundesliga have put a host of clubs on alert, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Liverpool view the 19-year-old as a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah and a perfect fit for Slot’s system, which relied heavily on the Egyptian’s brilliance last season.
Diomande only joined Leipzig from Spanish side Leganes this summer and has scored six goals and provided three assists in his first 16 Bundesliga appearances.
The highly rated winger also spent almost a month away from the club at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored once and helped Ivory Coast reach the quarter-finals.
Quiet January Expected at Anfield
Arne Slot
After spending over £450m on new signings in the summer transfer window, Liverpool remain unlikely to make any reinforcements in January.
The Reds have welcomed back Salah from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt and are gearing up for the second part of the season with a potentially unchanged squad.
Despite missing out on long-term target Marc Guehi, Liverpool are not expected to pursue an alternative centre-back, but are likely to revisit the matter after the season, when Ibrahima Konate’s contract expires.
As things stand, the Frenchman is expected to depart Anfield after failing to reach a breakthrough in talks over a new agreement.
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