Liverpool have failed to convince Yan Diomande to replace Mohamed Salah as the Ivorian winger is prioritising a move to Paris Saint-Germain, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Ornstein reports that Diomande has chosen PSG as his next club if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer. The in-demand attacking gem had been at the top of the Reds' wishlist to replace Salah following the Egyptian's exit.
Diomande is one of Europe's most highly-admired teenage wonderkids, and he starred for Leipzig last season. The 19-year-old bagged 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 games across competitions.
Diomande Chooses PSG Over Liverpool
RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande celebrates a goalREUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Diomande prefers a move to PSG because he believes this gives him a better opportunity to lift trophies regularly and win the Ballon d'Or. He has been convinced by the project overseen by club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos.
The Ivorian is also keen on playing under Luis Enrique and he is therefore set to reject Liverpool and hope for a move to the Parc des Princes to take place. For Andoni Iraola, it's a massive setback as the Leipzig star had been the club's top target.
Liverpool presented Leipzig with a package worth €100million (£86.8m; $115m) for Diomande. The Bundesliga club rejected this and insisted on a €130m fee for their exciting winger.
The German outfit are trying to get Diomande tied down to a new deal with his current contract expiring in 2030. If he does depart Red Bull Arena this summer, it seems likely that he'll be headed to the French capital.