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Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Set Sights on Bundesliga Forward

Since his outburst on Arne Slot back in December, Mohamed Salah was always expected to leave Liverpool this summer. However, his shock announcement on Tuesday still came as a huge surprise to the supporters.

The 33-year-old is set to cut his £400,000-per-week contract short and leave the club for free in June, with a long list of clubs around the world queueing to secure his signature.

Therefore, Liverpool have already began their succession planning with names like Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola all mentioned as potential targets.

However, according to recent reports, there is one name that is standing above the rest. Yan Diomande.

Who is Yan Diomande?

Yan Diomande is a 19-year-old forward currently playing for RB Leipzig. The Ivorian has managed to score 11 goals and assist eight in his breakthrough season in Germany.

He was only signed from Spanish side CD Leganes in a €20m move last summer, but has already become one of the most highly-rated players in Europe.

Interestingly, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp actually played a role in pulling Diomande to Leipzig.

Leipzig director Marcel Schafer spoke on discovering Diomande, saying: “Yan Diomande? We saw the data and immediately we knew that we had to take a detailed look at the player and that’s what we did.”

“Our advantage was that we were there before he had even played 200 minutes in the league. We already knew that he had the profile we were looking for that summer.”

“We didn’t need to have five conversations about signing him because the profile was clear. We were even in touch with Jurgen Klopp and Mario Gomez, who saw the data, and everybody said ‘go, go, go’.”

Photo: IMAGO

Diomande to Liverpool?

Despite arriving for just €20m last summer, Leipzig are expected to cash in on the teenager already. Transfermarkt currentl value the player at €75m, but the Bundesliga side are expected to hold out for closer to the €100m region.

Liverpool have already flexed their financial muscles in recent moves. Approximately £450m was spent on world-class talent last summer, including the likes of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

The Reds have already agreed a £60m deal to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, who will arrive this summer.

Whilst he is still so young and raw, there’s no doubt that there is huge potential behind Diomande. He may not be as proven as the likes of Olise or Barcola, but he could go onto become one of the world’s best.