Leipzig Hold Firm on Diomande as Liverpool's €100m Offer Falls Short

Liverpool's summer shopping spree continues, but they've hit a roadblock in their pursuit of winger Yan Diomande. The Reds have already wrapped up their first deal of the window, bringing in Victor Munoz from Osasuna, yet their sights remain firmly fixed on landing another wide option.

The Merseyside club tabled a €90m plus €10m add-ons proposal for the Leipzig forward on Thursday—a package that the Bundesliga outfit swiftly rejected. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, there are two distinct reasons why the Germans aren't budging at the €100m mark.

First, Leipzig remain determined to keep their prized asset. The club is actively encouraging Diomande to pen fresh terms and stay put through 2027, at which point he'd depart with a pre-agreed release clause firmly in place. The player, however, is far from convinced by that pitch. Industry sources reckon a figure closer to €120m would shift the needle.

The second factor at play is arguably more intriguing: Leipzig's belief that the Ivory Coast's World Cup campaign could enhance Diomande's stock considerably. With each tournament fixture, his asking price may climb, and additional clubs could yet throw their hats into the ring. Paris Saint-Germain remain circling, and others may follow suit.

Liverpool aren't throwing in the towel, though. Ben Jacobs reports that another offer is imminent, with the Reds prepared to move swiftly. Despite Diomande's current international commitments, there's a genuine possibility this transfer could be sealed during the World Cup window.

On the Munoz front, Romano confirmed the deal's particulars: the 23-year-old has signed through June 2032 on a €40m agreement. Real Madrid pocket just under €20m courtesy of a prior arrangement struck when Osasuna originally acquired him. Importantly, Madrid hold neither a buyback clause nor any iron-clad return mechanism—merely a right of first refusal should Liverpool field an offer down the line, with the player retaining ultimate say.