Earlier this week, RB Leipzig had already rejected Real Madrid's £85.4m (€100m) bid for Yan Diomande. On Sunday, Paris Saint Germain formally withdrew their interest, and Madrid now look like the clear leading club in the chase after Diomande had already agreed personal terms with them.
PSG's exit changes the race
PSG's own statement was blunt. They said they had "formally withdrawn its interest in, and bids for, Yan Diomande" and added that the asking transfer fee and salary demands were "completely disproportionate and distortive". They also said they would not break their principles of rational financial management and squad balance.
That leaves Madrid with the cleanest route, but not a done deal. Leipzig have already turned down one major offer, and the fact that Diomande had also previously agreed a contract with PSG until 2031 shows how far advanced the interest has been from more than one side without anything being sealed.
Why Madrid still like the deal
Diomande's rise has been fast. He made six senior starts for Leganés last season and scored in two of those six games, against Espanyol and Valladolid. Fabrizio Romano's reporting also underlined how quickly the situation has moved, with Diomande saying: "Everything went fast".
For Madrid, the attraction is obvious enough. They have already pushed with a nine-figure offer, and the personal terms are in place. For Leipzig, the sale only becomes easier if they decide the price is worth accepting, which is not what happened when Madrid came in first time.
The transfer is still open, but PSG stepping away removes the most obvious rival. Real Madrid are left in the strongest position yet, and Leipzig now have to decide whether to hold firm after rejecting the £85.4m (€100m) bid already on the table.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
