Real Madrid have entered the race for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande and are prepared to outbid both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, a move that could hand Arsenal a shock chance to sign Vinicius Junior.
The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has been Liverpool’s primary target to replace Mohamed Salah this summer, while PSG had the player’s preference after he agreed a contract with the French club, according to Sky Germany. But Madrid, who have already brought back Jose Mourinho as head coach and signed Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella, are now ready to pay top dollar.
“Real Madrid move for Diomande could see Vinicius Junior join Arsenal, while Liverpool and PSG lose out.”
Leipzig are holding out for a mammoth €130million (£111m) fee before sanctioning Diomande’s sale. The German side’s managing director of sport, Marcel Schafer, insisted: “Our clear intention is that Yan Diomande will play for RB Leipzig next year.” But if Madrid do stump up the required sum, it would be the biggest sale in Leipzig’s history, surpassing the fees for Benjamin Sekso (Manchester United, 2025) and Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, 2023).
Diomande joined Leipzig a year ago from Leganes and has been a sensation, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists in 33 Bundesliga matches last season as Leipzig finished third and qualified for the Champions League. He also played all four matches for Ivory Coast at the World Cup, helping them reach the Round of 32.
Madrid’s pursuit of Diomande has a direct knock-on effect at the Emirates. Arsenal are exploring a shock move for Vinicius Junior, and the Brazilian could be open to a summer switch if Madrid wrap up a deal for his replacement, according to reports.
For Liverpool, the situation is a further blow after already seeing Diomande lean towards PSG. The Reds have also been eyeing PSG’s Bradley Barcola, whose possible exit depended on Diomande’s arrival in Paris — a scenario now thrown into doubt by Madrid’s intervention.
With the World Cup over and negotiations set to accelerate, the next few days will determine whether Diomande stays in Leipzig or triggers a chain reaction that could reshape the Premier League’s attacking landscape.