Paris Saint-Germain have formally withdrawn their interest in RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande, citing disproportionate transfer fees and salary demands. This development has reportedly increased Real Madrid’s confidence in securing the Ivory Coast international.
Real Madrid are actively pursuing a deal for the 19-year-old, having already reached an agreement on personal terms with the player. The Spanish club had previously seen a bid of £85.4m (€100m) rejected by RB Leipzig, who are seeking a significantly higher fee for Diomande.
Diomande’s journey and club interest
Diomande’s career has seen a rapid ascent. Just a year ago, his senior career consisted of a few starts for Leganes as they faced relegation from LaLiga. Despite this, he scored in two of those six matches, against Espanyol and Valladolid, which was enough to convince RB Leipzig to acquire him for €20m. Since joining the Bundesliga club, he has been described as a revelation.
Diomande joined Leipzig from Leganes a year ago. He had previously indicated a preference to join PSG earlier this summer and had agreed to a contract with them until 2031. However, PSG‘s recent statement confirms their withdrawal from negotiations.
Other prominent clubs have also shown interest in Diomande. Liverpool expressed interest earlier in the summer, with an approach valued close to €100million (£86.8m; $115m), but they are reportedly unwilling to exceed £85m. Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City also remain keen on the forward.
RB Leipzig, on their part, have been holding out for a fee closer to €130million. The German club’s managing director of sport, Marcel Shafer, stated their clear intention for Diomande to remain at the club beyond the September 1 transfer deadline, and they have been attempting to tie him to a new deal, as his current contract runs through the 2029-30 season.
Last season, Diomande scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 Bundesliga matches. He missed only one league game due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January, contributing to Leipzig’s third-place finish and qualification for the 2026-27 Champions League.
Diomande also featured in all four matches for the Ivory Coast during the recent World Cup, helping his nation reach the round of 32 before being eliminated by Norway. He has scored three times in 14 appearances for Ivory Coast, making his mark at the Africa Cup of Nations and helping his country progress from a group that included Germany and Ecuador at the World Cup.
Real Madrid’s transfer activity
Real Madrid have been active in the current transfer window following the return of Jose Mourinho for a second spell as head coach. The club has already secured the signings of Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Marc Cucurella. Reports also indicate that the club is working on a deal to sign Rodri from Manchester City.
The potential arrival of Diomande has led to speculation regarding other players. Spanish journalist Tomás Roncero suggested that Diomande’s arrival could pave the way for Vinícius Júnior’s departure, with Arsenal reportedly showing interest in the Brazilian international. Vinicius Jr, 26, has entered the final year of his contract, and if a new deal is not agreed upon, Real Madrid might consider selling him rather than losing him for free next summer. Arsenal are exploring Vinicius Jr as one of several forward targets, alongside Julian Alvarez, Diomande, and Bradley Barcola.
Roncero also noted that Diomande could be an alternative to Michael Olise, who has been linked with Real Madrid. However, Bayern Munich director Christoph Freund has rebuffed claims about Olise moving to Real Madrid, stating that Olise will continue to play an important role at Bayern Munich this season.
The club’s transfer strategy is characterized by secrecy, a trait praised by Roncero, who believes it helps in securing deals without inflated demands. He also predicted that at least three players, including Mastantuono and Camavinga, could leave Real Madrid this summer.
Source: skysports.com
