Liverpool and PSG are both claimed to be keen on Yan Diomande - who Rangers once had in their colours.
A star Rangers had on trial less than three years ago is nearing a blockbuster summer move - and pursuit of the Ballon D’or.
Yan Diomande has had an explosive emergence on the global football scene. He started his senior career in Spain with Leganes and another step was taken in a breakthrough 25/26 season within German football at RB Leipzig. He is now being talked about for a €130m (£112m) transfer with Liverpool and PSG amongst those keen to sign him.
It’s the latter according to the Athletic that want to tie him up to a long-term deal and the 19-year-old believes PSG can fulfil his ambition of being crowned football’s best player. Talk of Paris and Liverpool is a far cry away from October 2023 when he featured for Rangers’ B team in a 3-1 friendly loss against Monaco.
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What happened when Yan Diomande went on trial at Rangers
Then-DME Academy prospect Diomande featured alongside Light Blues talents and while impressing in the game, RB Leipzig stated in an article this month that ‘as a teenager, Yan had trials at Bournemouth, Chelsea, Rangers, Olympiacos and Crystal Palace, but was turned down by all of them.’ Football Scotland’s reporting stated: “Ivory Coast youngster Yan Diomande was handed an opportunity to impress at Rangers as part of their B team’s clash with Monaco at Ibrox.
“The young winger started for Rangers with a few of the more known members of the B squad out of the team ahead of potentially being involved in the Ibrox club’s first team clash with St Mirren on Sunday ahead of the international break with Steven Davis’ side desperately needing a victory. They did name a trialist and it’s believed to be Diomande, with the winger impressing during the defeat to Monaco. The French side ran out 3-1 winners with Paul Nsio getting the home team’s only goal of the game.”
His career has exploded since the Rangers rejection and a huge move is now beckoning for Diomande. The Athletic state: “Yan Diomande has chosen Paris Saint-Germain as his next destination if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer. The Ivory Coast international, 19, believes in the PSG project led by chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos, sources speaking anonymously have told The Athletic, and wants to play for head coach Luis Enrique.
Yan Diomande with Ivory Coastplaceholder image
Yan Diomande with Ivory Coast | Getty
Why does Yan Diomande want to sign for PSG rather than play for Liverpool?
“The winger sees a move to the French capital as giving him the best opportunity to consistently compete for trophies and potentially become a future Ballon D’or winner. Liverpool had previously expressed a willingness to put forward a package approaching €100million (£86.8m; $115m) for him.
“Leipzig were unwilling to accept that offer and have been holding out for closer to €130m while also trying to tie Diomande to fresh terms. The teenager signed a contract until 2030 when he joined from Spanish side Leganes last summer.”
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