Liverpool’s pursuit of Yan Diomande looks increasingly likely to fail - but there are four more players on their radar as the transfer window continues.
The transfer window has only just opened, and already Liverpool’s Plan A – to sign RB Leipzig’s lavishly talented winger Yan Diomande – appears to be falling to pieces.
Bradley Barcola, Rayan & Yankuba Mintehplaceholder image
Bradley Barcola, Rayan & Yankuba Minteh | Getty Images
On Monday, The Athletic reported that Diomande had made the decision to join PSG, Liverpool’s only rival in the bidding. Leipzig continue to insist that they won’t sell the Ivorian, who has made it clear that he expects to move this summer, but even if their resolve is broken there is every indication that Liverpool will be left frustrated.
With the prospect of signing the 19-year-old as their replacement for Mohamed Salah now looking distinctly distant, the Reds may be forced to move on. They have already agreed a deal to sign Osasuna’s Victor Muñoz, but there is still a pressing need for a right winger to take Salah’s place – so we’ve taken a look at four players that appear to be on Liverpool’s shortlist should they be forced to concede defeat on a deal for Diomande.
Bradley Barcola – PSG
Barcola scored his first World Cup goal against Senegalplaceholder image
Barcola scored his first World Cup goal against Senegal | Getty Images
Barcola would represent a slightly galling consolation prize given that he only looks likely to become available if PSG do succeed in their mission to sign Diomande, but he is still a high-class winger who can play on both flanks – even if he is often the spare part in his side’s exceptional attack.
Despite being below Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desiré Doué in PSG’s pecking order, Barcola has still been exceptionally productive over the past two seasons, scoring 34 goals and providing 24 assists in all competitions.
The bad news is that Barcola will probably be exceptionally expensive even if PSG do sign Diomande, given that PSG don’t need to make any sales after agreeing a deal which will send Gonçalo Ramos to AC Milan. There may also be competition for his signature, with Arsenal among the teams monitoring his situation. Barcola would be obtainable and has the potential to be a very fine signing, but he won’t come cheap and is arguably a more natural left winger in any case.
Yankuba Minteh – Brighton & Hove Albion
Minteh cost a reported £30m when he signed from Newcastleplaceholder image
Minteh cost a reported £30m when he signed from Newcastle | Getty Images
Minteh has been linked with Liverpool consistently over the past six months, with The Athletic (again) being the most recent media outlet to suggest that the Gambian winger is somewhere on the Reds’ summer shopping list.
The million dollar question is whether Minteh can improve his production sufficiently to become a worthwhile replacement for Salah. In his two seasons down on the south coast, the 21-year-old has scored 10 goals in 73 matches and has often cut a frustratingly inconsistent figure. Liverpool like his talent and playing style, but he would need to take the next step at speed.
There’s also uncertainty over the kind of price tag he might command. He has three years left on his contract at the Amex Stadium, putting Brighton in a strong negotiating position, and recent suggestions in the gossip columns that Liverpool were hoping to spend around £40m on him seem exceptionally far-fetched.
Rayan – AFC Bournemouth
Rayan made the Brazilian World Cup squad after debuting in Marchplaceholder image
Rayan made the Brazilian World Cup squad after debuting in March | Getty Images
Rayan’s remarkably rapid rise from teenage prospect to the starting line-up of Brazil’s World Cup squad has caught Liverpool’s eye, as has his knack for goalscoring – five in his first 15 games for Bournemouth after moving to Dorset in January told the story of his stunningly quick adaptation to the English game.
The i Paper reported in June that new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola was keen to raid his former club for Rayan, but the price tag would be colossal. The teenager has a release clause worth £130m in his contract, although that doesn’t kick in until January – regardless of the timing, Liverpool would probably have to break their own British transfer record to sign Rayan during the 2026/27 season.
Bournemouth don’t need to sell players if they don’t want to and seem keen to move away from being a selling side – they also appear determined to keep hold of Alex Scott and Eli Junior Kroupi amid widespread interest – so Liverpool would have to present the Cherries with a towering offer to get them to sit down at the table. Liverpool may well want Rayan, but they may not have the means to get him.
Francisco Trincão – Sporting
Trincão had spells with Barcelona and Wolves before moving to Sporting in 2022placeholder image
Trincão had spells with Barcelona and Wolves before moving to Sporting in 2022 | Getty Images
Media links with Portugal international Trincão appear to be slightly more tenuous than those with Rayan, Minteh and Barcola, but several sections of the Portuguese media – including tabloid newspaper Correio de Manhã – believe that the 26-year-old is another player of genuine interest.
Trincão is perhaps more of a creator than a goalscorer, but his record of 31 assists over the last two seasons for Sporting is hugely impressive and he has edged past double figures for goals in three of the past four years. Salah he isn’t in terms of end product, but he has plenty of class and dynamism.
Perhaps the most plausible reason that Liverpool might end up prioritising a deal for Trincão is the price tag. He’s expected to be worth around €50m (£43m) and if deals for players like Barcola, Minteh and Rayan prove to be prohibitively expensive – a distinct likelihood - then Trincão could represent a more affordable Plan B.
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