Liverpool are willing to do whatever it takes to secure the transfer of Leipzig striker Yan Diomande this summer.
Sky Sports reports that Liverpool have identified the 19-year-old as the leading candidate to replace Mohamed Salah, who is expected to leave at the end of the season.
According to the report, "very concrete talks" are already underway between Liverpool and Diomandes' agency. Although the English club has yet to make direct contact with Leipzig, this could happen soon.
Liverpool will have to pay a large sum for the Ivory Coast international, who has a contract with Leipzig until 2030.
Sky reports that Leipzig are discussing a contract extension with the player's representatives, while the club, currently third in the Bundesliga and on course for Champions League qualification partly thanks to his contribution, would demand over €100m for their main striker.
If completed, this transfer would make Diomanden the fifth Bundesliga player to leave for a fee of around 100 million euros, after Kai Havertz (100 million euros, Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea, 2020), Florian Wirtz (125 million euros, Leverkusen to Liverpool, 2025), Jude Bellingham (127 million euros, Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid) and Ousmane Dembélé (148 million euros, Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017).
Only last year he joined Leipzig from Leganés for €20 million, and has since developed into one of the Bundesliga's most promising talents, scoring 13 goals and providing eight assists in 32 appearances this season.
He made his Ivory Coast debut in October and could face Germany in the group stage of the World Cup this summer.
His rapid progress has attracted the interest of several big European clubs.
Liverpool are currently considered favourites, but Paris Saint-Germain are also said to have recently held talks with the player's representatives.
Diomande has made it clear that Liverpool is his boyhood club.
"I'm a huge Liverpool fan. My dad dreams of seeing me play at Anfield one day. That's my dream too - and I want to make it happen," he said in a TikTok video in January.
Liverpool have also been linked with another Ivorian player in the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Touré, who is seen as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in both players, Touré and Diomande.
Qualifying for the Champions League remains a priority for Liverpool, and fifth place in the Premier League – their current position – would secure that objective.
Their chances improved over the weekend after Chelsea lost 0-1 to Manchester United, while a day later Liverpool won 2-1 against Everton in the Merseyside derby.
With five games remaining, the Reds are now seven points ahead of Chelsea.
However, renowned journalist David Ornstein said on the podcast "The Athletic FC" that coach Arne Slot is likely to stay even if the club fails to qualify for the Champions League.
The Dutchman, who is under contract until 2027, has been under increasing pressure after a disappointing season.
During the difficult period of the season, he also had a sensational clash with Mohamed Salah in December.
Although the two quickly resolved the situation, the Egyptian announced at the end of March that he would be leaving a year before the end of his contract.
"Unfortunately, the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will leave Liverpool at the end of the season," Salah said./Express newspaper/
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