Manchester City enter European royal rumble for high-flying RB Leipzig winger | OneFootball

Manchester City are competing with a host of elite European sides for the services of RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomande, as per a new report.

City’s season has unfolded with familiar authority as the Blues continue to balance domestic competitions with the physical and tactical demands of European football, a cycle that places constant pressure on squad freshness.

For Pep Guardiola, squad management has become as crucial as tactical innovation. City’s depth remains among the best in Europe but the gradual evolution of the group is ongoing. Wide areas, in particular, are a constant point of review, with the club keen to maintain pace, unpredictability and one-vs-one quality in attacking zones.

City’s recruitment model has long been defined by early identification rather than reactive spending. They routinely track emerging elite talent before it reaches full market inflation, even when immediate need is not obvious. This approach allows Guardiola flexibility over timing, integrating players when conditions suit rather than when necessity dictates.

January business at the Etihad Stadium is usually selective. City rarely act unless the opportunity aligns with long-term planning, preferring to prepare deals well in advance. That context is important when assessing their reported interest in a rapidly emerging Bundesliga talent.

The European market for high-ceiling attackers has become increasingly competitive, particularly for players capable of operating across the front line. Clubs at the top end of the Premier League are not only competing with each other but also with Bayern Munich and leading Spanish sides, driving valuations upwards and compressing timelines.

City are aware of that landscape. They have often found themselves in multi-club races, choosing carefully when to engage and when to step back. Their presence alone, however, is enough to shift the dynamics of a negotiation.

That appears to be the case with Yan Diomande, the RB Leipzig winger whose situation has accelerated rapidly in recent weeks. As reported by Africa Foot and relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are among a group of elite clubs ‘vying’ for the Ivory Coast international – alongside Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

The 19-year-old has been on recruitment radars for some time. It was reported in November 2025 that Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea were keen to sign him, with reports since suggesting that Tottenham had entered the pack of interested parties.

Africa Foot are now reporting that the race for Diomande has intensified, with Manchester United making the most aggressive moves so far. The report mentions that United have held direct meetings with RB Leipzig officials and tabled a €90 million offer for the African star.

Leipzig have understood to have granted Manchester United permission to open talks with the player’s camp, with a proposed contract running until 2030 and worth €3.5 million per year. Diomande is away at the Africa Cup of Nations at present, with expectations that clarity could emerge before the latter stages of the tournament.

Leipzig chief Oliver Mintzlaff has already acknowledged publicly that Diomande could leave as the January transfer window progresses, comments that appear to have emboldened the player’s representatives.

From City’s perspective, the situation is being monitored rather than driven. Their interest reflects long-term admiration rather than immediate urgency, with an awareness that Manchester United’s reported activity may be as much about leverage as certainty.

Africa Foot’s suggestion of a €90 million bid is particularly striking, given United’s ongoing structural reset following the sacking of Ruben Amorim as head coach and reports of a constrained January budget. It has raised questions about whether Diomande’s camp are using United’s involvement to apply pressure on other suitors, including Manchester City.

For Guardiola’s side, patience is rarely a weakness. City have the luxury of waiting, assessing whether the valuation aligns with their internal projections and whether Diomande’s development curve fits their timeline.

What is clear is that Diomande has reached a point where Europe’s elite see him as more than potential. City’s interest, even if measured, underlines his standing in the market.

Whether they choose to escalate or step aside will depend on how the race evolves. But in a window defined by strategic positioning as much as decisive action, Manchester City’s presence alone ensures the Diomande story is far from settled.