Liverpool are in a fierce battle with PSG to secure the services of Yan Diomande this summer, with Manchester United getting a ‘negative’ update on the player.
Jurgen Klopp thinks Diomande will stay at RB Leipzig for another year and even agree to a new contract.
But Liverpool and PSG are both eager to strike a deal for the winger, with the Reds now telling the player he will come, play in the same position, and replace Mohamed Salah.
Meanwhile, Manchester United appear to be behind both the Merseyside outfit and the Champions League holders when it comes to signing the 19-year-old.
Rate Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool appointment! Would any other manager have been a better pick?
Liverpool appear to be ahead of Man Utd for Yan Diomande
Ben Jacobs provided the update on Diomande when speaking about Manchester United’s interest.
The Red Devils seem unlikely to get a deal done for the Bundesliga talent, though, with Jacobs’ comments pointing towards Liverpool and PSG being the most likely destinations.
On Man Utd’s interest, he said: “Yan Diomande. I sense the update is quite negative as far as Manchester United are concerned. One, they’re not going to pay €100m because the bulk of the budget is going to go on midfield first.
“And two, there’s a slight difference in pitch because Manchester United would see Yan Diomande as capable of playing on both sides of course, but going back to where he started his career as left side predominant, whereas in the last kind of 18 months or so, maybe even a little bit longer, Leipzig have developed him and moved him over to the right-hand side.
On Liverpool and PSG’s pitch to the player, he continued: “And as a consequence, Liverpool and PSG are pitching to the player and let’s see if Bayern moved by the way as well because they missed out on Anthony Gordon too.
“But Liverpool and PSG in particular are saying to Diomande, you’re going to come, you’re going to play in the same role as you’re currently doing. And Liverpool are obviously able to say you’re going to fill the void left by Mo Salah.”
But while Liverpool look to be ahead of Man Utd in the race for Diomande, the player’s recent comments are not great news for the Reds.
He has previously spoken about his father wanting him to play for Liverpool at some point.
But as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, Diomande is now saying that his father is a PSG fan.
The player said: “Paris Saint-Germain is a team I’ve loved since I was a child. My father supports Paris Saint-Germain, and it’s a team I admire as a football fan.
“It would be a pleasure for me to come and play here with one of the biggest clubs. It’s always a pleasure to come here because, with French being spoken, I think adapting wouldn’t be difficult. But why not?”.
“I don’t think I’m looking ahead to the future or focusing on anything else. As I’ve said, I remain focused on the World Cup. After that, the clubs will sort things out between themselves and we’ll see what happens next.”
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
