Yan Diomande is a prime candidate to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool
Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig celebrates
Yan Diomande would crave a move to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool's pursuit of a Mohamed Salah replacement this summer is not one to be hurried. But few candidates for the position make greater sense than Yan Diomande, who has previously expressed what such a move would mean to him and his family.
Following one campaign at RB Leipzig, the 19-year-old has shown he's ready to step up another level in the European ladder. His debut season in the Bundesliga produced 13 goals and a further 10 assists in 36 appearances, a remarkably productive output for someone so young.
It emerged last month that Liverpool are frontrunners in the race for Diomande, who also counts Paris Saint-Germain amongst his suitors. Leipzig are expected to negotiate firmly, though, with a valuation of £87million being mooted.
New boss Andoni Iraola will be relying on owners Fenway Sports Group to finance some substantial activity in the transfer window. And it strengthens Liverpool's position that Diomande has indicated precisely what donning Liverpool red would signify.
Speaking on a TikTok live stream in November 2025, the winger - who can operate on either flank but has proved most productive on the right - said: "I have one [dream], I want to play at Anfield. I want to play for Liverpool. I'm a big fan of Liverpool."
Diomande has since clarified to Bild that his "dream" comment was in fact more a reflection of his father's wishes than his own: "People made it out to be my dream club, but first and foremost, it's my dad's favourite club.
"It was always his great wish to see me play there someday because he loves the atmosphere at Anfield. He always raved about Steven Gerrard. I was too young to see him play. We didn't even have a TV at home for a long time."
Yan Diomande celebrates
Diomande is one of the most in-demand players in Europe(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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He continued to show respect towards his current club, adding: "I have a lot of respect for Liverpool, but my dream club right now is Leipzig."
Nevertheless, it is hard to shake the idea that Diomande would be drawn to fulfilling his father's ambition by making the switch to Liverpool. Reports in recent months have indicated that the Reds are firmly keeping tabs on the Ivorian.
Reds fans would no doubt welcome it if club icon Jurgen Klopp could lend a hand by championing the transfer. The German holds the position of head of global football at Red Bull and consequently spends time in Leipzig due to their ties with the energy drink giant.
Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp could help get a deal over the line(Image: PA)
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Diomande was asked earlier this year whether Klopp had tried to nudge him towards a move to Merseyside, though his response implied the former Reds manager has stayed firmly neutral on the subject.
"No, not that, but we talk every now and then," he told Bild. "He tells me to stay humble and keep working hard.
"It was always my dream to play on one of his teams. That's not quite possible now, but being so close to him now, talking to him, shaking his hand, it's incredible. He's a legend."
Those comments once more suggest a particular fondness for Liverpool and what they achieved during Klopp's tenure.
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