PARIS. Yan Diomande has identified Paris Saint Germain as his preferred destination should he leave RB Leipzig this summer, dealing a significant blow to Liverpool’s hopes of securing the highly rated winger .
The 19 year old Ivory Coast international has been swayed by the project overseen by PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos, while the prospect of playing under head coach Luis Enrique has also proved decisive . According to reports from The Athletic, Diomande believes the French capital offers the ideal environment to consistently challenge for major honours and pursue his ambition of winning the Ballon d’Or .
The development represents a significant setback for Liverpool, who have been in determined pursuit of the winger as they seek to replace the departed Mohamed Salah . The Premier League side indicated their willingness to submit a package worth approximately €100 million (£86 million) earlier this month, only to be informed that the offer fell substantially short of Leipzig’s valuation .
RB Leipzig have been steadfast in their position, holding out for a fee closer to €130 million (£112 million) for a player they acquired from Leganes last summer for a considerably lower sum . The Bundesliga club are also attempting to persuade Diomande to sign improved terms, despite his current contract already running until 2030 .
Diomande enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign in Germany, registering 12 goals and nine assists across 33 league appearances to help Leipzig secure a third place finish and Champions League qualification . His dribbling fluency and emphatic finishing have firmly established him as one of Europe’s most coveted attacking talents .
Currently representing the Ivory Coast at the World Cup, Diomande is expected to feature when his side face Norway in the Round of 32 on Tuesday . The teenager has maintained that his focus remains on international duty, with negotiations expected to accelerate once his tournament concludes .
Should Diomande secure a move to PSG, he would become the biggest sale in RB Leipzig’s history, surpassing the €90 million fee Manchester City paid for Josko Gvardiol . For Liverpool, the pursuit of the winger now appears all but abandoned, with sporting director Richard Hughes understood to have identified several alternative targets as the club prepare for a new era under head coach Andoni Iraola .
PSG, who successfully defended their Champions League title by defeating Arsenal in May’s final, are in talks with Leipzig over a deal that would see Diomande signed to a contract until 2031 . Club to club negotiations are ongoing, though the player’s preference has now been made clear .
