Liverpool wants to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig but will have to offer more than the €100 million ($115 million/£85 million) it has indicated it would be prepared to pay
04:00, 25 Jun 2026
Yan Diomande in action for Ivory Coast at the World Cup.
Yan Diomande in action for Ivory Coast at the World Cup.(Image: Maciek Gudrymowicz/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Yan Diomande has already established himself as one of the World Cup's breakout stars, but if Liverpool gets a transfer deal over the line for the teenager, it will be no knee-jerk move.
It has been obvious for months that the Reds are in dire need of more pace and quality in wide areas ahead of next season. Spanish winger Victor Munoz became the first signing of the Andoni Iraola era last week, and he won't be the last, but more attacking additions are a must.
Liverpool has already made it known to RB Leipzig that it would be willing to pay a package worth around €100 million ($115 million/£85 million) for Diomande.
But the suggestion in Germany is that the Bundesliga side will not accept anything less than $148 million (£112 million), which, for a 19-year-old who has only one season with Leipzig, initially seems steep.
Diomande is clearly a major talent, however, as he has shown at this summer's World Cup. He was a strong performer against Ecuador on matchday one, and then created his side's goal against Germany by showcasing his blistering pace to stand up and beat Joshua Kimmich.
At club level, after arriving from Leganes a year ago, the Ivorian scored 13 goals and assisted another 10 in all competitions.
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 20: Yan Diomande #11 of Cote d'Ivorie celebrates a goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Cote D'Ivoire at Toronto Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Yan Diomande is Liverpool's primary transfer target(Image: Getty Images)
In the context of some other recent deals, too, the sum that Leipzig is hoping to achieve — if he reaches the level of talent that it appears he has — looks more reasonable.
On the market this summer, there are very few elite options for the right wing who are going to be on the move. Diomande, even as a teenager, looks to be comfortably the best of them.
Anthony Gordon has already moved from Newcastle to Barcelona for a fee of around $91 million (£69 million).
On the opposite flank for England against Ghana earlier this week was Noni Madueke, who joined Arsenal for $68 million (£52 million) a year ago.
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Neither Gordon nor Madueke particularly sparkled in that game — no one did — but nor did they in the season just gone.
Though the former got double figures for goals in the Champions League at St James' Park, Gordon only netted six domestically. The latter, meanwhile, was a firm understudy for Bukayo Saka at the Emirates Stadium.
Diomande will not come cheap if Liverpool can get a deal over the line. In an ideal world, Leipzig would tie him down to a new contract and is still hoping to convince him to stay another season.
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It is worth remembering, though, in the modern climate, that such fees have already been normalized. Liverpool's need for a player like this, combined with Diomande's ability, could soon make him look worth it.