Yan Diomande's future is already being spoken about in money terms. Liverpool have reportedly gone as high as £86 million, RB Leipzig are thought to want closer to £112 million, and the winger says his agents will sort out what comes next after the World Cup.
Leipzig's leverage in the deal
The price gap is not small, and that is the story here. Liverpool's willingness to bid up to £86 million has been reported alongside Leipzig's view that the fee should sit nearer £112 million, which puts the German club in a strong position before any formal resolution.
Diomande has also put down a decent marker at the World Cup. He posted a 7.0 rating across 85 minutes against Germany on 20 June, then followed that with a 7.2 rating over 50 minutes against Ecuador on 14 June. Across his last five tracked matches, he has averaged 6.92.
The clubs already in the frame
The race is broader than Liverpool. Paris Saint Germain are monitoring him, and Sunderland were in direct talks with Diomande and his representatives while he was at Leganes. Wolfgang Meier said those talks became very concrete, although Sunderland did not want to trigger the release clause when it was set at €20 million.
Diomande's own line is the clearest signal that nothing is being rushed. Speaking to liverpoolecho.co.uk, he said: "Would I be open to the Premier League? I don't know. I am an RB Leipzig player, but why not? My agents will sort that out. As for me I am more focused on the World Cup, that's the most important thing. It doesn't happen all the time, it's only every four years, so I am making the most of it and for the rest, we'll see."
That leaves the transfer talk where it has sat for now, in the hands of agents and clubs rather than the player himself. Leipzig still have the leverage, Liverpool have the biggest reported opening, and the rest of the market is waiting until after the World Cup.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →