Yan Diomande given clear Liverpool transfer instruction after $115M move

Yan Diomande appears to prefer a transfer move to PSG, but he has been given a clear Liverpool instruction after the Reds made a $115M move for the RB Leipzig starlet

Yan Diomande has been given a compelling reason to snub Paris Saint-Germain and opt for a move to Liverpool this summer instead.

The Reds had earmarked the RB Leipzig winger as a prime target to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah, having already wrapped up the signing of Victor Munoz.

Liverpool, it is understood, indicated a willingness to table an offer of approximately $115 million (£86 million) to the Bundesliga outfit for Diomande as part of a total package. Leipzig had previously indicated it would demand in the region of $150 million (£112 million) for the 19-year-old, who lit up the World Cup in the early stages.

Diomande then decided on a move to Ligue 1. However, former Reds attacking midfielder Joe Cole has urged the Ivory Coast international to reconsider his preference for the French giant.

"There's a lot of top-level wingers in world football right now, but Diomande is as good as I've seen; he's so explosive," Cole said, via the Liverpool ECHO.

"My advice to him as a young player is don't bother going to PSG. Go to Liverpool because if they want you and there's a hole in the team to play, then they really need you.

"PSG don't need anybody, but maybe his heart is set on Paris. If that's the case and he backs himself, I've got no problem with that. But if Liverpool still want him, go out and convince him because I think that would be the move that suits him best."

Nevertheless, Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff made his position abundantly clear back in April, insisting that Diomande would not be available for transfer this summer.

He said: "I can say: 'If I were sporting director, I wouldn't sell this young player, who hasn't even completed a full season with us'.

"No matter what price is being asked. I believe he's a player who can still develop further, because he's still very young. And he can certainly become more expensive."

Mintzlaff added: "Of course, there are other clubs where players also want to take the next step — FC Bayern is one of them, but also clubs from England and Spain.

"But we have to expect that a player, even if he delivers outstanding performances here, doesn't leave again after just one year.

"Therefore, I can only recommend to the management that they keep this player with us for the coming season. And then we'll have to see how he develops.

"We want to play in the Champions League. And that's naturally an argument for such a young player to then deliver what he's shown in a second season and potentially develop further — also at an international level.

"So we have many good arguments. And the best argument is a long-term contract. Therefore, I'm completely relaxed about the whole matter."

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