Real Madrid have entered discussions to sign winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. The Spanish club submitted an initial offer for the player, which RB Leipzig declined. Reports indicate that Real Madrid is in negotiations with RB Leipzig to reach an agreement for the Ivory Coast international, and personal terms have been agreed with Diomande.
Other prominent clubs, including Liverpool, Paris St-Germain, Arsenal, and Manchester City, have also shown interest in Diomande. Liverpool has expressed interest in a deal for the winger.
Interest from top European clubs
Diomande had previously indicated a preference to join Paris St-Germain earlier in the summer. He has an existing contract with PSG that runs until 2031. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has engaged in discussions with the German club regarding the player.
RB Leipzig, however, is reportedly only willing to sell Diomande for an exceptional fee. The German club’s managing director of sport, Marcel Shafer, stated that their clear intention is for Diomande to play for RB Leipzig next year, and they are hopeful he will remain at the club beyond the September 1 transfer deadline. Diomande’s current contract with RB Leipzig extends through the 2029-30 season.
Liverpool‘s potential offer for Diomande would surpass the Premier League’s record transfer for a teenager, which was set when Manchester United signed Leny Yoro from Lille in the summer of 2024.
Diomande’s impact and potential move
Diomande joined RB Leipzig a year ago from Spanish side Leganes. During his time at Leganes, he made his professional debut against Real Madrid and scored his first goal against Espanyol. His performances against Villarreal and Real Valladolid highlighted his dribbling ability.
Last season, Diomande scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 Bundesliga matches. He missed only one league game due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. RB Leipzig finished third in the Bundesliga, securing qualification for the 2026-27 Champions League.
Diomande also featured in all four matches for the Ivory Coast during the recent World Cup, where his nation reached the round of 32 before being eliminated by Norway. He has scored three times in 14 appearances for the Ivory Coast, making an impact at the Africa Cup of Nations and helping his country advance from a group that included Germany and Ecuador at the World Cup.
Real Madrid has been active in the current transfer window, with Jose Mourinho returning as head coach. The club has already signed Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Marc Cucurella. There is also ongoing work on a deal to sign Rodri from Manchester City. The interest in Diomande comes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Vinicius Junior.
Diomande is capable of playing on both the left and right wings, and Jose Mourinho reportedly prefers to have a pure winger on each side of his 4-2-3-1 formation. His ability to combine quantity and quality in dribbling makes him a potent weapon on the counter-attack, capable of generating power and accuracy with both feet.
Should Diomande leave, he would likely become Leipzig’s biggest sale, potentially surpassing the fee paid for Benjamin Sesko by Manchester United a year ago and the amount Manchester City spent on Josko Gvardiol in 2023.
The situation regarding Diomande’s transfer is described as an open race with six weeks remaining in the transfer window.
Source: skysports.com
