Liverpool's €100m Yan Diomande chase reignites after Leipzig boss drops hint

Andoni Iraola's Liverpool squad is taking shape, but the new manager still has room for one more marquee addition—and Yan Diomande remains very much in the picture after RB Leipzig coach Martin Dimichelis opened the door to a possible exit. Diomande, the 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger, emerged as Liverpool's top target following Mohamed Salah's free-transfer departure. After a breakout Bundesliga campaign, the teenager is regarded as one of Europe's brightest young talents. Leipzig had appeared determined to keep him, rejecting any summer sale out of hand, but Dimichelis struck a notably different tone when speaking to the press. "Yan has a contract and he has to come back," Dimichelis said. "But in football, a lot can happen overnight." According to Sport Bild, Leipzig are not ruling out a transfer—on condition that Diomande is immediately loaned back to the club for the following season. The same report states Liverpool are the only side to have submitted a bid so far, an offer worth €100 million including €20m in bonuses that was turned down. Even if Liverpool fail to land Diomande, the pursuit could open the door for a move for Bradley Barcola. The PSG winger remains on Liverpool's shortlist, and Dimichelis acknowledged that Barcola's availability depends on the price. Arsenal are also monitoring the situation, though Morgan Rogers is their primary target. For Liverpool, Barcola has been a priority since last summer, and with no new contract talks at PSG, he is considered gettable. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo's future at Anfield has been the subject of speculation given the search for another wide man, but TalkSport reports that Tottenham have been told the Dutch international is not for sale. Liverpool continue to pursue reinforcements out wide, and Dimichelis' comments suggest the Diomande saga is far from over.