Liverpool continues its pursuit of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, though a breakthrough in negotiations is not yet imminent. The German club is reportedly determined to retain the player, who has attracted interest from several top European teams, including Paris Saint-Germain.
Reports from Germany indicate that RB Leipzig may need to generate funds this summer following the appointment of Martin Demichelis as their new head coach. Demichelis succeeds Ole Werner, and the costs associated with the coaching change are said to have impacted the club’s finances. This situation could potentially lead RB Leipzig to consider selling players.
Despite RB Leipzig‘s desire to keep Diomande and offer him a new contract, his representatives at Roc Nation Sports have reportedly been in contact with major European clubs, including Liverpool, since February. Diomande himself has not dismissed the possibility of a move to the Premier League, stating that his agents would handle any transfer discussions while he focuses on the World Cup.
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Red Bull, has previously expressed a desire for Diomande to remain at RB Leipzig. However, the club has a history of selling key players to fund future investments, with players like Naby Keita, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ibrahima Konate having moved from RB Leipzig to Liverpool since 2018. Other notable sales include Timo Werner, Xavi Simons, and Christopher Nkunku.
Sources suggest that Liverpool has communicated a willingness to make a significant offer for Diomande, aiming to add pace to the wide areas of Andoni Iraola‘s squad. While RB Leipzig is keen to keep Diomande, some reports suggest they may ultimately be compelled to sell him this summer.
Three factors are reportedly influencing Diomande’s potential move to Liverpool: the player’s desire for the transfer, Liverpool‘s active pursuit, and RB Leipzig‘s potential need to sell. The relationship between the two clubs, evidenced by previous transfers, is also seen as a positive factor.
Should a deal for Diomande not materialise, Liverpool has identified alternative targets. These include Yankuba Minteh from Brighton & Hove Albion, Said El Mala of Koln, and Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille. Aston Villa is also reportedly interested in Fernandez-Pardo. These players are expected to be available at a different price point than Diomande, which could free up funds for other areas of the squad.
In terms of central defence, Liverpool intends to give Giovanni Leoni and new signing Jeremy Jacquet opportunities to establish themselves as partners for Virgil van Dijk. The departure of Konate as a free agent to Real Madrid has created a need for established senior defenders.
Joe Gomez is currently the only other player capable of comfortably playing at centre-back. Both Leoni and Jacquet are young talents; Leoni is recovering from an ACL injury and Jacquet has been out since February with a shoulder issue. Despite their youth and recent injuries, Liverpool believes they have acquired two promising defensive prospects from Italy and France, respectively.
The club remains open to acquiring a more established centre-half if a suitable market opportunity arises before the transfer window closes. Micky van de Ven was recently linked with Liverpool in the Netherlands, with Barcelona also reportedly monitoring his situation at Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham acquired Van de Ven in 2023 and reportedly has no intention of considering offers for him.
Liverpool previously showed interest in Van de Ven when he was set to leave Wolfsburg three years ago.
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk