Mohamed Salah is leaving Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Liverpool at the end of the season.
It means that the Reds will have to sign a new winger in the next transfer window, which could be bad news for Chelsea.
Both the Blues and Liverpool are thought to be interested in the same wide man going into the summer.
SCENARIO: Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Yan Diomande but must sell one of their current wingers first…
Who are you sacrificing? 👋
Chelsea’s list of wingers:
Pedro Neto
Estevao Willian
Alejandro Garnacho
Jamie Gittens
Geovany Quenda (joining in summer of 2026)
Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig gestures during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg
Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images
Liverpool make Yan Diomande ‘top target’ to replace Mohamed Salah in worrying development for Chelsea
In February, it was reported that Chelsea and Liverpool are both keen on Yan Diomande.
Diomande has been one of the standout attackers in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 29 appearances.
It makes it no surprise that the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in the RB Leipzig star, who could succeed Salah if he joins the latter this summer.
Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig plays the ball
Photo by Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed on X that Liverpool have now made Diomande their “top target” to replace Salah.
It is not a positive development for Chelsea, who may need to replace Alejandro Garnacho before the start of the 2026/27 season. It was recently claimed that the Chelsea board have accepted that Garnacho has not worked out and could now sell him.
Garnacho is a left winger, while Salah plays on the right, but Diomande can operate on both flanks.
Yan Diomande likely to pick Liverpool over Chelsea
Right now, a move to Liverpool seems way more likely than one to Chelsea. Liverpool are set to qualify for the Champions League, whereas Chelsea are almost certain to miss out.
That alone could convince Diomande to pick Liverpool over Chelsea. Whoever signs the 19-year-old will have to pay a lot of money.
It is thought that Leipzig want around £86m for Diomande’s signature. If Chelsea do not qualify for the Champions League, which now looks very likely, finances could be a problem for them. It may already be after making such heavy losses last season.
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