Liverpool target Yan Diomande is at the centre of a legal dispute involving two agencies.
The Reds are rumoured to have a personal terms agreement with the 19-year old ahead of a transfer that could cost in the region of £88million, although one claim suggests that the fee will be lower if RB Leipzig do not finish in Champions League qualifying positions.
This season, Diomande has been one of the brightest attacking talents in Europe.
Liverpool are one of a host of clubs tracking him ahead of his likely summer exit.
Agents fighting over Diomande
According to a report from the Telegraph, Diomande joined Roc Nation agency after joining RB Leipzig, but Maxidel Management has disputed the legality of the teenager leaving their representation.
Diomande stands to generate a tidy sum for whichever agency represents him when he leaves Leipzig. As is well known, agents earn huge sums from major transfers and with an £80m transfer fee on the line, Maxidel Management is threatening legal action.
They have released a statement, saying Diomande “remains contractually bound to our agency.”
It reads: “It is therefore with great surprise that we are now discovering that an an engagement may have been made in parallel with another agency, outside of any proper procedure and without respect for our contractual rights.
“In light of this situation, Maxidel Management will take all necessary measures to protect its rights and defend its interests through the appropriate legal channels.”
Agents and their agencies play a central role in transfers, alleviating the burden on players and their families but they also introduce a lot of extra complications.
It’s sad to think that a teenager has to deal with all this extra noise when Diomande likely wants to focus on his football. Fortunately, he will have a lot of legal support to navigate what sounds like a complicated situation.
This season, Diomande has nine goals and seven assists and is more than likely going to hit double figures for both.