Liverpool may hope to land a deal for Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as Mohamed Salah heads for the exit, but the Bundesliga club are planning new contract talks.
Diomande, 19, has emerged as the standout candidate as Liverpool weigh up their options for life after Salah, who departs on a free transfer this summer.
While there is interest in Bayern Munich‘s Michael Olise and the club have monitored Juventus’ Francisco Conceicao, the Ivory Coast winger stands out as the most likely signing.
There are two obstacles in Liverpool’s way: Leipzig value Diomande at €100 million (£86.8m) and are now looking to tie him down to a new contract.
Sky Germany‘s Philipp Hinze reports that Diomande’s representatives have already been contacted over a new deal which would see a “significant” pay rise and not include a release clause.
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
However it is maintained that if the youngster is not sold this summer, Leipzig only expect him to stay for another year before a high-profile move in 2027.
Either way, Diomande is “not unsellable” as those within Leipzig are aware that they need to raise funds – and they are “not in a position to reject offers in the region of €100 million.”
But other players are considered more attainable, with centre-back Castello Lukeba and winger Antonio Nusa seen as likely to leave along with loanees Lutsharel Geertruida, Eljif Elmas and Arthur Vermeeren.
RB Leipzig: Biggest Sales, Season by Season
|Season|
|---|---|---|---|
|2025/26|Benjamin Sesko
Man Utd – £73.3m|Xavi Simons
Tottenham – £51m|Mohamed Simakan
Al-Nassr – £40m|
|2024/25|Dani Olmo
Barcelona – £51m|||
|2023/24|Josko Gvardiol
Man City – £77.6m|Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool – £60m|Christopher Nkunku
Chelsea – £52m|
|2022/23|Tyler Adams
Leeds Utd – £20m|Brian Brobbey
Ajax – £16.5m|Hwang Hee-chan
Wolves – £14m|
|2021/22|Dayot Upamecano
Bayern – £38m|Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool – £36m|Marcel Sabitzer
Bayern – £13.7m|
* Data sourced from Transfermarkt.
If Diomande were to commit to a new deal it would then pave the way for a sale in a year’s time, with a comparison made with Benjamin Sesko’s eventual €85 million transfer to Man United.
Clearly Leipzig are in a strong position when it comes to Diomande, who is already tied to the club until 2030 on his current deal.
However it remains a fact that they are a selling club and if a player wishes to depart, they are rarely if ever able to stand in their way.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, March 3, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Liverpool FC at Molineux Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Salah’s exit will create a major vacancy in Liverpool’s attack, and despite suggestions of a new-look setup with two strikers in Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, wingers will almost certainly remain key next season.
Liverpool are no doubt reluctant to pay €100 million for a teenager with less than a season of Bundesliga experience under his belt.
But they will know that if they do plan to push for Diomande they may need to hold their nerve and watch a poker game play out in the media before making their move.