Brutal blow to Liverpool in the summer Mercato

Leipzig’s rising Ivorian star Yann Diomandy, 19, has decided on his next destination for Paris Saint-Germain, preferring to play under Spanish manager Luis Enrique over Liverpool in a deal that could be worth up to £100m this summer.

British newspaper The Athletic reports that the Ivorian striker, who is currently playing at the 2026 World Cup, wants to play under Luis Enrique after Paris Saint-Germain president Luis Campos convinced him that a move to the French capital would enable him to fulfill his dream of winning the Ballon d’Or and the top prize.

The decision comes as a blow to Liverpool, who were prepared to pay the necessary money to include the Ivorian talent as a key replacement following the departure of Mohamed Salah, but the temptations of the Paris project and the player’s personal ambitions tipped the balance in favor of the French club.

German side Leipzig are seeking in excess of £100m for their rising star, although they are also keen to extend his contract, which runs until 2030, in a bid to keep him for at least one more season.

Diomande joined RB Leipzig from Leganes just 12 months ago and caught the eye with his impressive performances in his first season in the Bundesliga. He scored 12 goals and scored 9 goals, which made him the center of attention of major European clubs.

The speedy striker will take part in Cote d’Ivoire’s Round of 32 match against Norway next Tuesday in Texas, where he hopes to lead his country to continue their journey through the tournament and increase his market value.

Leipzig are known for their big deals, having sold Manchester United striker Benjamin Sisko for over £70m last summer and selling Jusco Guardioli to Manchester City for over £80m in 2023, giving them confidence in their ability to extract a record fee for Diomande.