Liverpool supporters have been letting the news sink in that they will not be signing Yan Diomande this summer.
Reds fans had been hopeful of seeing the Ivorian sensation playing for them next season, but were rocked on Sunday by news that Diomande wants to join Paris Saint-Germain instead.
Despite the 19-year-old’s intentions, though, that does not make his move to Paris a foregone conclusion.
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This is a BIG blow to the Reds' summer plans 😓
RB Leipzig have already shown their determination to keep Diomande during their dealings with Liverpool, and after managing director Marcel Schafer spoke out to reiterate their hopes of extending the youngster’s contract, he could stay and leave in 2027 instead, keeping the Reds in the picture.
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While it is clear that if Diomande leaves Leipzig this summer it will not be for Liverpool, delaying his exit for another year would mean the race is not completely over.
Schafer suggested as much on Monday, with BILD relaying bullish quotes from the director.
“Our clear intention is for Yan Diomande to play for RB Leipzig next season,” he said.
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“And we’re not going to deviate from that. We know exactly what we have in him. Of course, if Yan continues to develop the way he has, the time will come when we’ll allow him to take the next step – but not this year.
“If we don’t find a solution, then we don’t find one – but he still has a four-year contract. So let me emphasize this once again: Yan Diomande will remain a Leipzig player.”
Liverpool could still change Diomande’s mind
If Leipzig do manage to stand firm on Diomande it will be quite a coup for the German club.
For Liverpool, it will also mean that they can resume where they left off with the Ivory Coast international, having previously had confidence that they could convince him to join them.
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The Reds have clearly done a fair bit of groundwork on Diomande, and if they show persistence and do not waver in their intention to sign him, maybe they can change his mind here.
It would be a gamble, of course, as it would mean them keeping their powder relatively dry this summer and not buying a player who would block Diomande from joining.
But if Liverpool can hold their nerve, one year is a long time in football, and there’s every chance things can change from Diomande’s perspective.
As ever, though, what those in charge of football clubs say and what they do are two different things. Schafer may be bullish today about Leipzig’s chances of keeping Diomande, but it would not be a surprise to see him join PSG in the coming weeks either.
If he does not, however, Liverpool can still be considered alive in this one.
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