With the hype around Yan Diomande described as being “fully justified,” we spoke to an expert about the Liverpool transfer target.
Mo Salah‘s exit and Hugo Ekitike‘s long-term injury have made the signing of at least one fast winger a must for Liverpool this summer.
Diomande has been noted as an option for the Reds by several journalists, including the Times‘ Paul Joyce, despite having arrived in Europe less than 18 months ago.
With 12 goals and nine assists so far in his debut campaign for RB Leipzig, the 19-year-old’s price tag is already being touted at £85 million – and after listening to a Bundesliga expert, it is evident why.
To learn more about Diomande and what he could bring to Liverpool, Sam Millne spoke to Bundesliga commentator Dan O’Hagan who has watched the 19-year-old extensively.
What has made Yan Diomande stand out this season?
I think really from almost day one this season, Diomande was straight away Leipzig’s attacking spark.
They themselves had a mini rebuild in the summer and Diomande has been the kind of central hub of their attacking. As I say, he’s enormously quick, scored some terrific goals and he’s really selfless.
You see the way he sets up teammates. For a young winger, his potential is frightening and there’s no surprise for me that so many clubs want him because he’s that kind of unicorn player.
He’s so rare and he’s a true young talent. He would cost, obviously, an enormous fee despite just one year in the Bundesliga, but I think certainly that in his case, the hype is fully justified.
So Liverpool would face competition for him?
I mean this guy is on most clubs’ lists. A player who has had an amazing breakout in the Bundesliga, he came in from Leganes, who went down from La Liga last season in Spain.
He did OK there, but at Leipzig he’s just had this amazing explosion this season; already 12 goals, seven assists in the Bundesliga alone.
He’s the fourth-quickest player in the league. He’s a proper, exciting right winger. The kind of player who gets fans on their feet, who scores goals, great goals, involves teammates – and he’s been linked with a whole host of clubs.
Bayern have been linked quite a lot in Germany and we know Leipzig are a club who do sell their young talent.
So will he be on the move after one year? I don’t know, but he’s certainly a player that if he does move to Liverpool, fans should be really excited about.
Which wing is he most suited to?
3DDK707 Marrakesh, Marocco. 31st Dec, 2025. December 31 2025: Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast gestures during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast, at Marrakesh stadium, Marrakesh, Marocco. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Ulrik Pedersen/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
I mean he’s an extremely mobile, modern player. He can play with both feet. He’s played more, as you say, on the right for Leipzig this season.
His assists stats stand out, his goals stand out as well, and I just think that for a player of his age – he’s going to have a World Cup in the summer, too, with Ivory Coast – he’s one of those players you just feel the world’s at his feet.
Because, you know, to be so young and to be such a key figure now in a top four-challenging team in a major European league with his age and experience, he’s got an amazing foundation to build upon.
And yeah, right wing, left wing, a player who can really make things happen. I’m sure he’ll have a big summer with the World Cup and if he moves on, we shall see.
Does he actually have a stronger foot?
3DR18JJ Leipzig, Poland. 15th Feb, 2026. Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig seen during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg at Red Bull Arena. Final score RB Leipzig 2 : 2 VfL Wolfsburg. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
I’ve seen him more coming in from the right to cut in on that left foot, but he can play, as you say, both flanks.
He’s extremely versatile as a winger and the kind of player who I think excites fans. We love to see wingers cut in and bend shots towards goal, and that’s in Diomande’s locker certainly.
What about his work off the ball?
YD
Yan Diomande
RB Leipzig • Bundesliga Only
FotMob Rating
7.61
32
Matches
Minutes Played2,396
Chances Created55
Successful Dribbles115 (60%)
Touches in Opp. Box188
Expected Goals (xG)6.74
Data strictly reflects 2025/26 Bundesliga League performance only • May 11, 2026
We know the Red Bull system is about a high pressing, high-energy football and certainly Leipzig still play that way.
Diomande is a player who works extremely hard, tracks back pretty well as well for an offensive player. And at Leipzig, in a year, that has been well schooled into that mindset, that way of playing.
What you get would be a player with enormous work rate, energy, fitness.
Do you think he could adapt to the Premier League?
Yan Diomande goal celebration (Photo by Tomasz Karczewski/Arena Akcji/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
So we know Leipzig, the players they bring through from Austria or wherever, they bring these young players in. Szoboszlai being an example, of course. Leipzig’s almost like a finishing school for these players.
They come in from maybe a smaller club or a smaller league certainly. Leipzig polish them in that kind of Red Bull way of playing and they move on as almost kind of the finished article.
And I think players in Leipzig tend to be lower-risk transfers because of that, because they are well-schooled and they are well-attuned to playing at a high level at a young age.
And yes, he would be an enormous transfer fee given his form this season, but I just think a Leipzig signing is a lot lower risk than maybe signings from other clubs, because they are schooled to play in a certain way.
If you were Arne Slot and could sign one player this summer, who would it be?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
I mean, I’ve got to be honest, Yan Diomande for me because I just think his numbers this season for a first year in the Bundesliga have been great.
He’s a proper exciting player as well. Would he complement what they already have? Would he make Wirtz better? Would he make Isak better? I think he probably would.
He takes some of the kind of heat away from Wirtz in the creativity stakes as well. I think that’s probably important to think about as well, that you’re trying to kind of balance that load.
We know Wirtz has had an up-and-down club season at Liverpool this year, and I just think Diomande would kind of help in that regard.
If I were Slot, if I were Liverpool and if the money was there and if Leipzig would sell, I’d kind of break the bank for him to be honest with you.
*Thanks again to Bundesliga commentator Dan O’Hagan for his time. You can follow him on social media here.*