Yan Diomande: Man United target makes transfer hint – Fabrizio Romano | OneFootball

Manchester United’s hopes of striking a deal for Yan Diomande have ramped up after the latest move by the RB Leipzig starlet, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Wingers are back on the menu

The Red Devils are prioritising a new left winger this summer, with Ruben Amorim’s exit signalling a return to flying wide men at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick, appointed interim coach until the end of the season in Amorim’s wake, has implemented a switch to a 4-2-3-1 system – with the results speaking for themselves.

Three wins on the trot against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham have transformed the mood around the club. It has made the prospect of Champions League qualification a realistic one, with United currently fourth in the table.

The form of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo – reinvented as a false nine under Carrick – means the right side is well-stacked. The left is lacking a natural option to call it home, however.

Matheus Cunha’s best work comes centrally, while Patrick Dorgu’s long-term future is likely to be further back, despite his impressive performances in January. Mason Mount also offers an alternative, though he too is more effective inside.

United launched an ambitious move to sign Antoine Semenyo over the Christmas period, with the Bournemouth talisman’s contract containing a £65m release clause. But he rebuffed these advances in favour of a switch to City, citing playing under Pep Guardiola as a key motivator.

The pursuit shows the profile INEOS are targeting, however, with the 6’0 winger possessing a potent pairing of physical and technical qualities, capable of playing on either flank with outstanding dribbling and lethal finishing. It makes sense, therefore, to pivot towards Diomande – a player with a broadly similar skillset to Semenyo – as the primary alternative to the Ghana international.

Diomandes aren’t forever

Diomande has exploded to life in the Bundesliga, firmly establishing himself as one of Europe’s hottest commodities.

Despite being just 19 years old, he ranks amongst the continent’s elite for dribbling and ball progression metrics, while demonstrating a clinical touch in the opposition box which belies his years. The Ivorian – who played alongside Amad at the Africa Cup of Nations – has scored eight goals and provided six assists in 21 appearances, averaging a contribution every 102 minutes.

Yan Diomande: 2025/26 Stats

RB Leipzig are desperate to keep hold of their prized asset, having signed him from La Liga minnows Leganes for €20m last summer. The German club have indicated he will “definitely” be at the Red Bull Arena next season, with a firm intention to reject offers as high as “€80 or €90 million”.

However, this fight to keep Diomande where he is requires a willingness on his part – and Romano reveals the youngster has just signed with a new agency ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

Tweet: “RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomandé has signed today with Roc Nation Sports International as new agency. Important decision ahead of summer transfer window with several top clubs keen.”

Roc Nation Sports, founded by Jay Z, is a high-profile group designed to “elevate athletes’ careers on and off the pitch”. For a player to appoint them as their representative is a clear signal of a drive for change, either competitively or commercially – likely both in the case of a highly sought-after youngster.

Final Thoughts – United lead the race

Romano contends “several top clubs [are] keen” on Diomande, with United understood to be joined by Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in England, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also in the hunt further afield.

However, these clubs – outside of Tottenham, who pose no threat – do not have the same level of need on the left wing as United. It would be a difficult decision for them to sanction a raid as high as €100m for an attacker with less than 18 months of experience of senior football.

This risk is exactly what gives United the inside track to agree a deal for a player who has the potential to develop into one of Europe’s most devastating wingers. It’s stick or twist for INEOS – with Diomande’s change in agent showing what hand he wants to lay down this summer.

Featured image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images

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