Liverpool sent Yan Diomande transfer message as Reds weigh up £87m transfer swoop

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Liverpool hopes of landing RB Leipzig 's Yan Diomande this summer have been given a boost with the team's manager, Ole Werner, admitting that it is "part of our DNA to develop young players and prepare them for even bigger clubs".

The Ivorian winger has been one of the leading lights at the Red Bull Arena and that has led to interest from around Europe. Leipzig's business model is to sign young players before developing them and landing huge profits, with Diomande the latest gem the German club have unearthed.

Liverpool are going to be in the market for a wide forward with Mohamed Salah moving on in the summer. He will leave a huge void, even if he has underwhelmed this season, and the Reds are on the lookout for someone who can replace his contributions in the final third. The Reds have previously done business with Leipzig, signing Dominik Szoboszlai back in 2023 and Ibrahima Konate two years earlier - and Werner has confessed that seeing their top players move on to pastures new is part of the game.

He said on Diomande's next move: “That’s not a big issue right now. It’s an issue that affects every club in Germany except perhaps Bayern Munich . All other clubs have to make transfers time and again. It’s also part of our DNA to develop young players and perhaps prepare them for even bigger clubs.

"But that doesn’t really concern him much at the moment. We’ve managed to replace other players quite well this season,” Werner said with obvious reference to the summer exodus of players like Xavi Simons or Lois Openda. People don’t talk much anymore about the players who’ve left. We’ve done a good job with scouting there. As a result we’re quite happy with where we stand and are on course for the Champions League .“

Diomande, who has several top clubs eyeing his services and is valued at £87million, had already talked up a move to Anfield, citing it as his father's ambition. “I want to play for Liverpool. I’m a huge Liverpool fan,” he said earlier this season. “My dad dreams of seeing me play at Anfield!”

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Diomande made the move to Germany from Spanish side Leganes and has made an instant impact. The Ivorian has scored 13 times in 32 outings for the Bundesliga outfit, which has them on the cusp of Champions League qualification.

Landing the riches on offer in Europe's elite club competition has proved telling in Leipzig's business in the past. Last season they missed out and that ultimately motivated the sales of Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons, who left for a combined £120m. The German side spent just shy of £20m to land Diomande last summer and, in only a year, his value could well quadruple if the Red Bull outfit get their desired price.

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