Real Madrid eye Yan Diomande as Vinicius Junior replacement | OneFootball

With Jose Mourinho set to return to Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain, the Portuguese tactician has already drawn up a list of transfer plans.

On that list is RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. According to a report from Bild, Mourinho sees the Ivorian as one of his preferred players to replace Vinicius Junior, should he leave Los Blancos this summer. It comes just hours after Fabrizio Romano reported that both Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are in talks with Diomande’s representatives over a summer move.

According to Sport Bild, Leipzig want to extend Diomande’s contract beyond 2030, but the 19-year-old isn’t considered ‘unsellable’. Should Leipzig receive an offer in the region of €150m, then it’s going to be difficult for the Bundesliga side to turn down such a figure – a fee that would be realistic with a strong World Cup performance.

Diomande is coming off the back of a strong maiden campaign in Germany’s top flight, having scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 appearances.

Speaking on his future earlier this month in a media roundtable, Diomande said: “I don’t think about it too much because my focus is on the pitch, my job is playing football, that takes care of everything.” While his focus is on the World Cup and playing Champions League football with Leipzig, the Ivorian added: “Anything can happen in football.”

GGFN | Daniel Pinder