3DR18JJ Leipzig, Poland. 15th Feb, 2026. Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig seen during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg at Red Bull Arena. Final score RB Leipzig 2 : 2 VfL Wolfsburg. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
3DR18JJ Leipzig, Poland. 15th Feb, 2026. Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig seen during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg at Red Bull Arena. Final score RB Leipzig 2 : 2 VfL Wolfsburg. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
Real Madrid are the latest club to make a move for Yan Diomande, with RB Leipzig rejecting an offer worth €100 million.
Liverpool themselves had a €100 million (£85.4m) offer rejected by the German club earlier this summer, but stepped back after the player expressed a desire to join Paris Saint-Germain.
With the French side having made little progress on striking a deal, Arsenal were then credited with interest, and now Real Madrid have entered the race.
The Athletic‘s David Ornstein reports Madrid are “actively working” on a deal, while Fabrizio Romano reports an initial bid of €90 million plus €10 million in add-ons was immediately rejected.
3DDK707 Marrakesh, Marocco. 31st Dec, 2025. December 31 2025: Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast gestures during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast, at Marrakesh stadium, Marrakesh, Marocco. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Ulrik Pedersen/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
3DDK707 Marrakesh, Marocco. 31st Dec, 2025. December 31 2025: Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast gestures during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast, at Marrakesh stadium, Marrakesh, Marocco. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Ulrik Pedersen/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
Leipzig are known to want a fee in the region of €130 million (£111m), but are also eager to retain the 19-year-old and extend his deal beyond 2030.
According to German outlet BILD, Diomande has “already agreed to a contract with his desired club PSG until 2031,” but “an official offer” has yet to be tabled by the French side.
It creates quite the transfer race, leaving Leipzig in a strong position to command their asking price if Real Madrid force PSG to bid higher than they previously planned.
Why Liverpool will still be watching Yan Diomande situation closely
3ER40Y1 Bradley BARCOLA of France celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group I match between France and Senegal at MetLife Stadium on June 16, 2026 in East Rutherford, United States. (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport)
3ER40Y1 Bradley BARCOLA of France celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group I match between France and Senegal at MetLife Stadium on June 16, 2026 in East Rutherford, United States. (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport)
While Madrid’s late ‘hijack’ shows the market for the 19-year-old has yet to be settled, Liverpool will be watching closely as they remain on the search for a new winger.
Bradley Barcola has emerged as the top target after Diomande expressed a desire to join PSG, but the French side missing out could impact Liverpool’s pursuit of Barcola.
It is perhaps why reports earlier in the week emerged of Liverpool making an enquiry for AS Monaco right winger Maghnes Akliouche, who is considered a target for PSG with a price tag of £42.6 million.
It could well be a strategic nudge from the Reds to force movement in the winger market, with Liverpool yet to make any advancements to bolster a position Andoni Iraola identified as a priority.
“There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players,” the head coach said. “A winger, for example – we definitely need to sign a winger.”
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Amit Bhatia, John Henry, Jeff Bezos collage
Amit Bhatia, John Henry, Jeff Bezos collage