Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae has laughed off transfer talk around Yan Diomande, saying: “They tell me he’s about to sign for Liverpool!”
Diomande has been Liverpool’s most high-profile link by some distance so far this summer, and his presence at the World Cup means he is having to face questions about his future.
The Ivory Coast attacker’s international coach, Fae, has become the latest to be quizzed over where the 19-year-old will be playing his football next season.
Following the Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Ecuador, the manager said: “When we were in France for preparations, journalists were telling me he was going to sign for PSG.
“Now, today I arrive in the US and I’m told he’s going to sign for Liverpool, so we’ll see.
“I think he is very focused on the World Cup first of all, and then after, he’ll make the best decision for the rest of his career. ”
Yan Diomande of Cote d'Ivoire during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast at Philadelphia Stadium on June 14th, 2026. (Photo by Riquelve Nata/Sports Press Photo)
Faes’ comments were intended to be tongue-in-cheek and not to be taken as the gospel.
The coach added: “Yan, what can I say? I can’t put it into words. He’s very talented, but beyond the talent, he’s very young and he will improve.
“He is a kid who works hard, has a real team spirit, laughs with everyone and he listens, listens to the technical staff whenever he’s given advice and tries to do his best as he’s told.
“It is easy to work with someone like Yan. He is so talented and has what is needed, plus he can give you the win and was a real challenge for [Piero] Hincapie, a Champions League finalist.”
The Ivory Coast won their World Cup opener 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Amad Diallo. The Man United attacker didn’t start the game, though, as Bazoumana Toure and Diomande took up their positions on the left and right flanks, respectively.
Diomande was superb from the off, creating more chances than anyone else (5) and taking the most touches in the opposition box (12).
As his coach mentioned, he gave Arsenal defender Hincapie a terrible time.
In fact, Opta tell us that the left-back was dribbled past four times on Sunday night, the most by a defender in a 2026 World Cup match so far.
For context, Hincapie was only dribbled past 19 times in 39 appearances for Arsenal in 2025/26 (0.62 per 90).
Liverpool pushing to sign Yan Diomande
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
Liverpool are pushing to sign Diomande in this window, but they face competition from PSG.
RB Leipzig are currently valuing the player at £112 million, making the transfer a potential risk for such an inexperienced player.
It seems Liverpool are willing to gamble, though, having already made contact for the winger, according to the Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
The journalist said in late May that Liverpool “have manoeuvred into a strong position with the player” and if a deal looks “plausible,” Ornstein explains that “talks between the clubs can be expected to follow.”
Those talks may now be taking a back seat as Diomande focuses on the World Cup, but as we have already seen, it is possible to move transfers along while the players are in tournament mode.