RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande admits it is his ‘dream’ to one day play for Liverpool.
Diomande has taken German football by storm since leaving Leganes to join Leipzig last summer, racking up six goals and two assists in his opening 14 appearances in the Bundesliga.
Already, the 19-year-old winger is being spoken about as one of the most exciting young attacking talents in the German top flight and his eye-catching performances have begun to attract the attentions of top teams around Europe.
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-German have both been credited with a strong interest in Diomande in recent weeks. There have also been incessant rumours talking up a potential switch to the Premier League, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all linked.
However, according to The Athletic, Leipzig see Diomande as ‘essential’ in their hopes of securing Champions League qualification and have no interest in cashing in on Diomande this January – unless they receive an ‘exceptional’ offer worth in the region of €100million (£87m).
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‘It is our aim to keep players with us for longer than just one year, because otherwise you don’t achieve any continuity,’ Leipzig chief Marcel Schafer, recently told Kicker.
‘It is our aim to keep players with us for longer than just one year, because otherwise you don’t achieve any continuity.’
Asked if Leipzig were in the ‘driving seat’ when it came to Diomande’s future, Schafer replied: ‘There isn’t even anyone sitting in the passenger seat.
‘Everyone is sitting in the back seat.’
But while Leipzig have remained strong in their stance over Diomande, the player himself has got Liverpool fans talking with some comments he made about the club on a recent TikTok live.
In the video, the teenager opened up on his lifelong love and support for the Reds, which was first ignited by his father.
‘Yes I do, I want to play at Anfield and I want to play for Liverpool. I’m a big fan of Liverpool,’ Diomande told his followers.
I’m a big fan of Liverpool because my father’s dream is to see me play at Anfield. So that’s my dream.
‘You know, to fulfil my father’s dream is a dream for me too.’
Diomande was on the losing team this weekend as his Ivory Coast side – the Africa Cup of Nations holders – were knocked out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage by Egypt.
It remains to be seen if Ole Werner will throw Diomande straight back into Leipzig’s starting XI for the club’s next match with Freiburg on Wednesday night.
The Leipzig head coach may be tempted to wrap the young forward in cotton wool, with his side facing off against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich three days later.
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