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Speculation linking Yan Diomande with a move to Liverpool has cooled after reports suggested the winger has made Paris Saint-Germain his preferred destination.
RB Leipzig are determined to keep hold of the teenage sensation and are demanding a fee in the region of €120million (£101.9m) before considering a sale this summer.
The Bundesliga club have received interest from several European heavyweights, including Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, but no club has yet met their valuation.
Liverpool have been among the most proactive suitors, submitting a proposal worth around £67million (€80m) plus significant add-ons, but the offer falls short of Leipzig’s asking price.
Paris Saint-Germain remain firmly in the race, with talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs claiming the French champions are closing in on an agreement for the Ivory Coast international.
Jacobs said: “PSG are getting closer to signing Yan Diomande, even though Leipzig don’t want to sell and Maghnes Akliouche could join the French champions as well.
“If they are get one or both of them over the line, Bradley Barcola could become available on the market because there is an impasse in contract talks between PSG and Barcola, and Liverpool in particular are the ones to watch more for Barcola.”
Diomande has emerged as one of the most sought-after young talents in world football after recording 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances last season.
His outstanding performances helped RB Leipzig secure a third-place finish in the Bundesliga, earning them a return to the Champions League after missing out on Europe’s elite competition the previous campaign.
The 19-year-old winger also impressed on the international stage, making four appearances for Ivory Coast at the World Cup and providing an assist in their 2-0 victory over Curacao. However, their tournament run ended in the round of 32 after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Norway.
Providing an update on his future, Diomande said after Ivory Coast’s 2-0 win against Cucacao: “I don’t know. I’m not thinking about my future after the World Cup.
“I’m trying to put all my energy into the World Cup, and then I’ll see what’s happening after. I can say nothing about that.”