Liverpool will need to find a replacement for Mohamed Salah when the summer arrives and RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande has been tipped as a likely option despite a hefty valuation
16:21, 28 Apr 2026
Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig and Harry Kane of Bayern Munich
Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig and Harry Kane of Bayern Munich(Image: Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann says RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande is the best player in Germany at the moment — and he is ready to make a move to Arne Slot's side.
Leipzig is desperate to keep Diomande for another 12 months amid links with Liverpool, PSG and others. The club is said to value the teenager at around $117 million (£85 million) but is under no pressure to sell and is heading back toward the Champions League, which will only strengthen its financial position.
"Liverpool have been linked to Yan Diomande and he's outstanding," Hamann said. "He's certainly the best player in the Bundesliga this season and it's his first having arrived from Spain.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah to announce next club as Liverpool farewell plunged into doubtREAD MORE: Jurgen Klopp gives honest assessment of Florian Wirtz's first season at Liverpool
"He has an interesting background, as he went to college in America before coming back to Spain with Leganes. I believe he even spent time in the second division. The club paid £17M ($23M) for him, which is a healthy fee, but they clearly saw something.
"He plays for the Ivory Coast and will face Germany in the World Cup. Not many people may know about him now, but I'm sure they will after the World Cup because he is an outstanding player.
"He plays off the left or the right, he's two-footed, with pace and trickery. He's a wonderful player, not only to watch but also very efficient and effective. I'm sure the big clubs will come calling for him, and if he hasn't got a clause in his contract, he won't be cheap.
"He took to the Bundesliga like a duck to water, obviously stepping up from the second division in Spain. He's been the best player; every time he plays, you feel something is going to happen.
Diomande is enjoying a breakthrough season
Diomande is enjoying a breakthrough season(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"If he keeps his feet on the ground, I think the world is at his feet. He's an outstanding talent.
"I know football is different in England and some players have had problems this season, but with the pace he has, he's very hard to catch. I wouldn't think it's too early for him."
Heading into the summer, Liverpool needs to harness some momentum to set up the new campaign. It will also need some more investment in the transfer market.
"I think you need to get the fans behind you and Diomande could do that," Hamann, speaking to New Betting Offers, continued. "There was a lot of hype last season, and a lot of football is down to expectations.
"With the season they played last season, and the signings they made, everybody thought, 'Well, we might not be beatable for the next three or four years.' Now, as it happens, they scrape into the Champions League, hopefully just in fifth place.
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"So, I think you need to get the punters behind them because I think they're pretty disillusioned. Alexander Isak has been a disappointment; he's been injured and didn't play an awful lot.
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"Florian Wirtz has been disappointing throughout the season. Now, the most prolific player, probably the only one who really did what was expected, Eikitike.
"He's out for an awful long time, so we probably won't see him in this calendar year. And then there's always a question mark, because it's about that injury, the Achilles tendon. So, I think they need a signing like Diomande to really make the punters look forward to the new season again."
Liverpool.com says: Suggesting that he is better than Harry Kane or Michael Olise is a bold shout, but there is no doubt that Diomande is heading for the top. Even at 19, he looks like he is ready for regular Champions League action.