Liverpool are seeking to finalise a deal for Yan Diomande before the World Cup begins in less than two weeks’ time, according to reports in Germany.
Diomande is widely considered the club’s leading transfer target, with a replacement for Mo Salah of utmost importance.
Interest in the Leipzig winger has been well-documented, and Sky Sports Germany report Liverpool are “pushing hard” in their pursuit to “finalise the deal before the World Cup.”
Diomande will represent Cote d’Ivoire this summer, alongside Bazoumana Toure of Hoffenheim, another mooted transfer target, in Group E, which also contains Florian Wirtz‘s Germany.
Although Cote d’Ivoire’s World Cup campaign does not kick off in the US until June 15, they have a pre-tournament friendly against France on June 4.
Thus, while the desire to have a deal secured before the tournament is unsurprising, as it could only drive up his price, for one, it may be easier said than done.
A medical would need to be organised, likely with permission from his national side, plus discussions with the player and Leipzig to reach total agreement in less than two weeks.
Paris Saint-Germain and Man City have also been credited with interest, and Leipzig themselves have not given up hope of keeping the 19-year-old with a new long-term contract.
Diomande is valued at €100 million (£86.4m) after a 13-goal and 10-assist campaign in his first season in Germany, a fee which Liverpool would look to drive down.
Harvey Elliott has previously been mooted as a potential makeweight in any deal due to Leipzig’s previous interest in the 23-year-old.
Harvey Elliott could be used in deal for Yan Diomande
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott on the pitch before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Times‘ Paul Joyce recently brought back up the possibility of a player-plus-cash swap involving Elliott, as he is still not in the club’s long-term plans.
As it stands, he will report for the first day of pre-season at the AXA Training Centre, but he is not expected to remain for the long-term.
Diomande, meanwhile, has been playing down talk of his immediate future, though did signal his intention to play at a big club like Liverpool.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be okay for everyone to pay that,” he told So Foot, via Sport Witness, after being asked about his reported price tag.
“I’m not going to say Paris, Liverpool or Real (Madrid). But it would be a good idea to play for big clubs. Everyone has ambitions and every day you want to go higher.
“So, it was Leganés, today I’m a Leipzig player. I’m not going to hide my desires or my dreams. I want to play for a big club, of course.”