Liverpool get transfer green light as RB Leipzig will sell top target | OneFootball

Liverpool recruiters have spent plenty of time assessing candidates at RB Leipzig of late.

Of course Yan Diomande has been the primary focus with the 19-year-old Ivorian looking like the Premier League champions’ first choice to strengthen on the wings.

But there is a young midfielder reported to be on the Reds’ shortlist in the shape of Assan Ouédraogo. The 19-year-old has been on the radar for the Anfield side since his Schalke days and is trying to put the worst of his recent injury troubles behind him.

And while it remains to be seen what the Red Bull-owned outfit actually do this summer in terms of Diomande and Ouédraogo one long-term Liverpool target WILL be sold.

With Leipzig requiring around €100m in sales.

Leipzig preparing to sell Lukeba

That’s according to a report in BILD which claims that Leipzig are ready to compromise on the Frenchman’s €80m (£69m) release clause.

Liverpool have been linked with the 23-year-old for a few years now and will require a long-term solution on the left side of their defensive line with Virgil van Dijk out of contract in 2027.

“Castello Lukeba (23) remains a prime candidate for sale,” the report reads.

“The French center-back is determined to take the next step in his career this summer, and he's certainly ready from a sporting perspective.

“However, he doesn't come cheap: his contract, which runs until 2029, includes a release clause of €80 million. RB Leipzig would likely be open to negotiations for a slightly lower price.”

Castello Lukeba: Situation summary

Castello Lukeba has quietly become the defensive reference point of RB Leipzig’s post‑Gvardiol back line, a left‑sided centre‑back who feels custom‑built for their aggressive, front‑foot model.

Still only in his early 20s, he has stacked consistent Bundesliga and Champions League minutes while grading out as one of the league’s more reliable young defenders by most advanced metrics.

On the pitch he is a proactive defender rather than a pure box‑minder: quick over the ground, sharp in his reading of passes into the front line and confident stepping in to intercept before strikers can turn.

His left foot gives Leipzig balance in build‑up, allowing them to play through pressure and hit diagonals without relying solely on full‑backs.