Liverpool’s post-Mohamed Salah planning is quietly gathering pace – and RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande has emerged as a leading name on their shortlist. The 19-year-old is viewed at Anfield as an ideal fit for a more fluid, quick and versatile forward line as the club reshape their attack for the next era.
Manchester United, however, are also very keen on the Ivorian with Fabrizio Romano confirming that he features highly on their own summer shortlist.
On the pitch, Diomande’s numbers this season explain why both Premier League giants are circling.
He has racked up 10 goals and 6–7 assists in the Bundesliga and across competitions in 2025/26, contributing 19 goal involvements in his first senior campaign. In league play alone he has 10 goals, 6 assists, 29 shots on target and 111 progressive carries, underlining his blend of end product and ball-carrying threat from wide areas.
But Liverpool believe they quietly hold a crucial advantage in the race.
According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool “feel their strong relationship with the Red Bull group, who are still determined to convince Diomande to sign a bumper new deal, gives them the edge.”
Ibrahima Konate is a good recent example, having joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021 after the club triggered his £36m release clause. Dominik Szoboszlai followed a similar path two years later, arriving from Leipzig in July 2023 when Liverpool activated his £60m release clause to bring the Hungarian to Anfield.
Leipzig’s stance remains firm: there is no release clause for 2026, and it will take a huge offer – some reports quote in the region of 100 million euros – to tempt them into a sale. That gives them control, but Liverpool’s confidence stems from their familiarity with the Red Bull model and the clear pathway they can offer Diomande as a flagship piece of a new-look forward line.
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