A huge fee for Diomande: Liverpool push, Leipzig resist

As Romano relayed on his YouTube channel, the package Liverpool sent was turned down by Leipzig, and the German club made clear they would not accept €100 million. Romano said the bid was rejected for two main reasons. First, Leipzig still dream of keeping the player. The club is offering Diomande and his agents the chance to stay one more season, sign a new high-salary contract, put a release clause in it, and leave for whichever club he wants in summer 2027. In that scenario, the player could pick his new club himself.

But, according to Romano, there is a weakness in this strategy: Diomande is very tempted to leave immediately this summer rather than wait one more season, even with Champions League football awaiting him. Per industry sources, the "magic number" to make a deal possible could be €120 million; so Liverpool's current €100 million package is not enough for now.

The second reason for the rejection concerns timing. Leipzig believe that as Diomande stands out a little more with each World Cup game, his value could rise and more clubs could enter the race. Romano stressed that, alongside Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain remain interested, and that if the player keeps up this form, new suitors could step in and the price could climb further. Indeed, after his man-of-the-match display against Ecuador, Diomande impressed reporters by speaking in English, replying to a Premier League question: "I don't know, I'm an RB Leipzig player, but why not?"

Per Romano, Liverpool's advantage is not just financial. The club is ready to offer more than PSG in contract terms too in order to attract the player. PSG, meanwhile, struggle to make room for Diomande in their squad unless they sell Bradley Barcola, and the French club are not all that keen to part with Barcola. That allows Liverpool to get ahead of their rival both financially and in sporting terms.

Liverpool are said to have completed their first signing of the summer by adding Victor Munoz from Osasuna; but the club's search for another top winger continues, and Diomande stands out as the priority target for that role. Romano said he expects Liverpool to return to the table with an improved offer. The 19-year-old Diomande played a key role in Leipzig's third-place finish and Champions League qualification last season with 12 goals and 9 assists in the Bundesliga. The young star's future is set to be one of the transfer stories both Liverpool and PSG follow most closely this summer.

Source: Fabrizio Romano
Image: goal.com