Liverpool are “hopeful” of negotiating a “lower fee” for the signing of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande this summer, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed.
The 19-year-old has emerged as arguably the Reds’ No.1 option to replace Mohamed Salah on the right flank at the end of the season, with Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise seemingly attainable.
Diomande is one of the most exciting young wide players in Europe, catching the eye enormously for Leipzig, and Liverpool appear to be at the front of the queue for his signature.
Now, speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke has said that the Merseysiders are confident of signing the Ivorian for less than the rumoured £87m before the 2026 World Cup gets underway.
“Liverpool are hoping they can get this deal done early. Leipzig are holding out for a huge figure of around £87million to try and get a deal done. It seems Liverpool could be willing to go to that level, but are hoping they can maybe negotiate a lower fee than that as well.”
Yan Diomande can light up Anfield for years to come
Finding a Salah successor is such an unenviable task for Liverpool, considering the 33-year-old is one of the outstanding attacking players of his generation, but in Diomande, they have a wonderful potential long-term signing.
The Leipzig ace has a brutal combination of pace, trickery and end product, already delivering consistently in the latter category – he has 12 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga in 2025/26 – and scout Jacek Kulig has shown his appreciation for him:
“Exactly 14 months ago,Yan Diomande moved from US fourth-tier side DME Academy to Leganés. 10 goals and 7 assists for Leipzig this season. One of the best players in Germany. Wanted by Europe’s elite clubs. An unbelievable rise in just over a year. What a player.”
It is important to remember that Diomande isn’t yet 20, however, so some patience will be required with him as he makes the move from the Bundesliga to the quicker and more physical Premier League, as has been the case with Florian Wirtz.
But he has all the tools to be a fabulous player for Liverpool for many years if the deal goes through, which at this point feels more likely than not.