Liverpool are gearing up for a major shake-up in their attacking ranks this summer, with a €100 million (£86.5m) star reportedly on their radar. After last year's overhaul focused on the center of the pitch—bringing in playmaker Florian Wirtz and strikers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak—the Reds are now turning their attention to the flanks.
The priority for sporting director Richard Hughes and manager Arne Slot is adding one-on-one quality out wide. This shift comes as Mohamed Salah prepares to leave Anfield after agreeing to terminate his £400k-per-week contract a year early. Federico Chiesa is also expected to follow Salah out the door, having failed to impress Slot during his two seasons at the club. Meanwhile, fans are calling for an upgrade on Cody Gakpo, and the head coach has been hesitant to rely on Rio Ngumoha as a consistent starter.
Enter Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international who has been turning heads at RB Leipzig this season. The winger has delivered a string of eye-catching performances, helping the Red Bull-owned side secure Champions League qualification. Diomande joined Leipzig from Leganes last summer for a bargain £18m fee, signing a contract that runs until 2030—putting the Bundesliga club firmly in control of his next move amid intense interest from top European sides.
Leipzig are expected to demand a nine-figure fee for Diomande if they decide to sell this summer. Given Liverpool already shelled out a similar amount for Isak and Wirtz last year, another massive outlay would be a significant ask. However, a report from TEAMtalk claims that preliminary talks between the two clubs are already underway.
Hughes is exploring ways to structure a deal, likely using staggered payments and performance-related bonuses to make the transfer viable. "Diomande remains the Merseysiders' clear priority," the report states. "Negotiations with Leipzig are understood to be at an early stage, although the German club's valuation north of €100million presents a significant hurdle. Liverpool are exploring structured payments and add-ons to make a deal viable this summer."
With no guarantees that a deal will materialize, Liverpool fans will be watching closely as the summer window approaches. If Diomande does make the move, he could be the dynamic wide threat that takes Slot's attack to the next level.