Yan Diomande has refused to shut the door on a move to the Premier League this summer, with the RB Leipzig winger leaving the possibility firmly open despite insisting his full attention remains on the World Cup with Ivory Coast.
The 19 year old has quickly become one of the most talked about names of the tournament so far, following a man of the match display in Ivory Coast’s 1 0 win over Ecuador in Philadelphia.
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Diomande completed more dribbles than anyone else on the pitch with four, created the most chances with five, and made more tackles than any other player with five, as Amad Diallo’s late strike sealed the win for the Elephants.
That performance has only intensified speculation over his future.
Liverpool have emerged as the frontrunners to sign him as a long term option to replace Mohamed Salah, who departs Anfield after nine years at the club.
Leipzig were already demanding upwards of 100 million pounds for Diomande back in January, and that figure looks likely to climb further given his form in North America.
Speaking after the Ecuador match, Diomande addressed the Premier League talk directly.
Asked about the growing interest from England, he said, “I don’t know. I’m an RB Leipzig player, but why not?”
“In the end, my agents take care of that.”
“As for me, I’m more focused on the World Cup.”
He went on to explain his priorities, adding, “That’s the most important thing.”
“It’s not something that comes around all the time, it only happens every four years, so I’m making the most of it.”
“After that, we’ll see.”
It is a response that leaves the door open without committing to anything, in keeping with comments from Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae, who joked after the match that he had been told Diomande was “about to sign for PSG” while the squad were in France, and now hears he is “about to sign for Liverpool” since arriving in the United States.
On the pitch, the case for a Premier League move is building quickly.
Diomande enjoyed a breakout debut season in the Bundesliga, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists, while completing 118 successful dribbles, the most of any player in the league, and creating 56 chances, ranking among the division’s top ten.
For Liverpool specifically, there is an added layer of intrigue.
New head coach Andoni Iraola previously transformed Antoine Semenyo into one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wide players during his time at Bournemouth, and Diomande’s profile, two footed, direct, and effective in one on one situations, bears clear similarities.
His off the ball numbers also align with Iraola’s high pressing approach, having ranked fourth in the Bundesliga for possession won in the attacking third.
For now, though, Diomande’s message is clear: the World Cup comes first, and the transfer talk can wait until afterwards.