Yan Diomande’s imminent move to Real Madrid has brought an end to Liverpool’s pursuit of the winger. The 19-year-old had emerged as a potential target for the Reds this summer as they search for a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, who left Anfield before joining Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor.
Liverpool had been monitoring Diomande’s situation earlier in the window, but Real Madrid’s progress in securing the Ivorian’s signature has forced the club to explore alternative options.
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According to The Athletic. Real Madrid have reached an agreement with RB Leipzig for the signing of Diomande in a deal worth up to €140million.
Diomande joined Leipzig’s pre-season training camp in Austria on Monday as the German club prepare to ratify his transfer to the Spanish giants.
A deal worth around €125million plus €15million in add-ons has been agreed. The Ivory Coast international has been given permission to travel to Madrid for his medical, with his former club Leganes also set to receive a percentage of the transfer fee as part of the agreement when he joined Leipzig.
Madrid moved ahead with the deal after Paris Saint-Germain withdrew from negotiations, while Liverpool had also previously shown interest in the winger as they searched for attacking reinforcements.
Diomande returned to Leipzig training following his World Cup campaign with Ivory Coast but missed the club’s pre-season camp in Austria as negotiations over his future continued. Leipzig stated his absence was due to illness and unrelated to the transfer.
Diomande, who is contracted until 2030, enjoyed an impressive debut season in Germany, scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists in 36 appearances. He also featured in all four of Ivory Coast’s World Cup matches before their quarter-final exit.
Diomande initially favoured a move to Paris Saint-Germain but switched his preference to Real Madrid as negotiations progressed. The Spanish giants are now closing in on another major signing this summer.
Real Madrid’s move for Yan Diomande addresses a long-standing issue on the right wing. Diomande fits the profile the club have been searching for, offering the ability to play on either flank while primarily operating from the right – a position that has lacked consistency in recent seasons.
Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler have all featured there, while last summer’s signing Franco Mastantuono has struggled for regular opportunities and is set to join Fiorentina on loan.
Although former Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva can play from the right, Madrid view him more as a central or inside-channel option. Diomande could now provide the long-term solution they have been seeking on the wing.