The race to sign RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast star Yan Diomande is heating up, as Liverpool positions itself in the best place possible to beat rivals to the winger's signature this summer
Luke Thrower Trends Writer
08:49, 19 Jun 2026
Yan Diomande of Cote d'Ivoire during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Cote D'Ivoire and Ecuador
Yan Diomande continues to be linked with a transfer to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images))
Liverpool has been warned about the price of Yan Diomande this summer, as former player Vladimir Smicer claims the Reds should get a deal over the line to replace Mohamed Salah.
It comes as the Merseyside outfit is pushing to land the 19-year-old RB Leipzig star, having outlined him as a key target for the summer transfer window. Reports claim that Liverpool is willing to pay a package worth $115 million for Diomande, though it remains to be seen whether RB Leipzig will push for more.
The forward enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga and showed signs that he will be a star for the future, which is only being reinforced by his performance at the World Cup with the Ivory Coast.
There is competition in the mix for Liverpool to consider, as Paris Saint-Germain appears to be lurking in the background. That could force the hand of the recruitment team to pay out even more.
However, former Reds player Smicer has warned against paying too much, while also believing that the side can't let the deal get away in the same way that Antoine Semenyo did with his move to Manchester City.
Speaking to Casinostugan, he said: "If I can choose, I would just sign Diomande and keep Gakpo. I would be careful with the price of Yan Diomande because he only played one year in Germany.
"Of course he's nineteen and is showing good things. Maybe in your head it's better to buy him now for £50 million than in two years for £150 million.
Yan Diomande #11 of Côte d'Ivoire before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match against Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium
Yan Diomande continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images))
“But he's only had one season. We need a strong winger with pace, which is what we were missing this season. We'll be missing Salah next season, so we need a replacement for that kind of player.
"It was a pity that Semenyo went to Bournemouth and then chose Manchester City, because I saw him as a good player for our team, he is the one that got away.
“We definitely need to go on the market and buy a winger. On the left side we have competition between Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha, but who is on the right side? We definitely need to buy someone.”
It remains to be seen what deal Liverpool can get over the line for Diomande, if an agreement can be reached, but it may be a tough one to negotiate.
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Some even more impressive World Cup displays could see the price rise further, but the club will be conscious of not bowing into pressure for a deal that doesn't work for them.
That's why links to the likes of Bradley Barcola may persist, as the Reds prepare for the possibility of having to move on in the market.