Liverpool will need to find an alternative to Yan Diomande after the 19-year-old's decision to choose PSG, although one former Red has questioned why his old club was after him in the first place
23:36, 02 Jul 2026
Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola will need to add to his squad at Liverpool this summer(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool star Paul Ince has questioned why Liverpool was ever interested in Yan Diomande, given the club already has Rio Ngumoha.
Diomande has been the Reds’ primary target throughout the summer as they look for a replacement for Mohamed Salah, although it looks as though they will have to admit defeat in their pursuit of the 19-year-old.
Having had an offer of around $115 million (€100M) rejected by RB Leipzig, Liverpool was thought to have been weighing up a second approach before it emerged that Diomande had decided he wants to join Paris Saint-Germain if he leaves his current club this summer.
No bid has yet been made by PSG, although that could be forthcoming after Diomande indicated that he does expect to leave Leipzig, leaving Liverpool to look at alternative options.
Ince, who played for the Reds between 1997 and 1999, isn’t convinced his former club should have been in the running for Diomande in the first place though.
“There is a massive revamp to do at Liverpool. A big revamp,” Ince told BestBettingSites.
Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast
Yan Diomande has picked a move to PSG over Liverpool(Image: Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Even with Curtis Jones now being linked to Inter Milan - to be a truly great player, you have to perform year in and year out. We use that word ‘great’ too easily and too flippantly now. To earn that, you have to sustain it.
“So it'll be interesting to see who Iraola brings in. People are talking about Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for £90 million or something like that. Honestly, I watched him the other day and I think, yeah, he's got some nice attributes, but he's a bit of a fizzy drink - he just pops up here and there.
“For £90 million, I'm thinking, ‘Jesus Christ.’ Especially when you've got the young lad Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool, who is only 16 or 17 and plays on that left-hand side. Why do we need to go and spend that money on someone who is only two years older than him?
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Fulham at Anfield, Liverpool, on April 11, 2026. (Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rio Ngumoha has enjoyed a breakthrough year at Liverpool(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“I'm interested to see how they do. I certainly don't expect them to win the title this year, that's for sure, but it will be interesting to see what acquisitions [Andoni] Iraola brings in to make them better, because they need a much better season.”
Liverpool will be hoping for a big improvement next season following a disappointing 2025/26 campaign, which resulted in Arne Slot being removed as head coach after his side only just secured qualification for the Champions League.
Andoni Iraola has been hired as his replacement, and the former Bournemouth boss will need to act quickly after supporters were left feeling disgruntled with performances in Slot’s final year.
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“When you manage Liverpool, the fans always have an expectation, just like when you're at Manchester United,” Ince said. “I looked at Liverpool last season and I just thought it wasn't right.
“There were a lot of issues there. Obviously, the Mohamed Salah stuff with Arne Slot wasn't great for the club. It's very rare that you see that kind of friction come out publicly from Liverpool Football Club; you usually see that stuff come out of other clubs.
“Also, you very rarely hear Liverpool fans boo. Never - that's not the Liverpool way. When the fans start doing that, you kind of think, ‘Right, something is not right here, there's a deep issue.’”