Liverpool Accelerate Diomande Pursuit as Rivals Circle Leipzig Star

Liverpool have ramped up their interest in RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande and are considering an aggressive early approach to fend off competition from Europe's biggest hitters, according to reports.

The 19-year-old Ivorian has been nothing short of sensational in his first German campaign, racking up 11 goals and seven assists across 27 appearances. Operating across either wing, Diomande has emerged as one of the continent's most dangerous ball-carriers, sitting second only to Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in Europe's dribbling charts this season with 84 successful attempts.

That tally puts him ahead of some genuinely stellar names—Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Liverpool's own Luis Diaz all trail behind. Recent form has been particularly eye-catching, with three goals and an assist in his last four Bundesliga outings catching the attention of Anfield scouts, who've reportedly attended all those matches to compile detailed assessments.

Liverpool's plan is to steal a march on the continental elite by striking while the iron is hot. Convincing Leipzig to part with their prized asset will require a substantial €100 million (£86.5m) investment. Bayern Munich have registered their admiration, whilst PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona have all conducted extensive scouting missions throughout the season.

Crucially, sources indicate that Diomande's representatives have actively encouraged Liverpool to move forward with their interest. The Reds are understood to be pursuing the signing regardless of Mohamed Salah's summer plans.

For Manchester United, any deal would sting considerably. The Red Devils have been tracking left-wingers and were reported to have sent scouts multiple times to monitor Diomande in January, though City ultimately won the race for Antoine Semenyo when Ruben Amorim was in charge.

Diomande's versatility means he could either develop into Salah's eventual successor on the right or immediately step into a left-wing role vacated by Cody Gakpo. A right-footer with the rare ability to operate effectively on both flanks, his combination of pace, technical ability and clinical finishing has earmarked him as one of Europe's most exciting young talents. At his age, there's every reason to believe his ceiling remains significantly higher than what he's already achieved—a genuinely worrying prospect for Premier League defenders should Liverpool land their man.