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Liverpool are reportedly set to make a major splash in the transfer market, with an £86 million (€100m) bid lined up for RB Leipzig’s rising talent Yan Diomande. The Ivory Coast international has emerged as a top target for the Merseyside club following Mohamed Salah’s departure.

Reds set to break transfer records

As per reports from the Liverpool Echo, the Reds are ready to make Diomande one of the most expensive acquisitions in their history. The club has reportedly allocated an £86m (€100m) package to secure the RB Leipzig winger. Negotiations between Liverpool and the Bundesliga side intensified on Thursday as the Anfield outfit aims to strengthen its frontline under new leadership.

Despite the significant financial proposal, German sources indicate that Leipzig have already turned down Liverpool’s initial approach. The German side remain intent on keeping the 19-year-old and are pushing to tie him down to a new deal, expected to include a hefty release clause to safeguard his value.

Leipzig holding out for a higher price

Although Liverpool enjoy a positive relationship with Leipzig—following previous transfers involving Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate, and Dominik Szoboszlai—the German club is reportedly playing hardball. Leipzig are believed to be seeking closer to €130m (£112m) before entertaining any potential sale of their prized asset.

Should Liverpool meet that valuation, Diomande would become the third most expensive signing in the club’s history, behind only Florian Wirtz, who joined in 2025 for £116m, and Alexander Isak, who became Britain’s costliest footballer after his £125m transfer from Newcastle United last September.

Life after Mohamed Salah

Liverpool’s pursuit of Diomande is part of their effort to fill the void left by Salah’s exit. The Egyptian forward confirmed in March that he would leave the club at the end of the current season, ending a remarkable spell in which he topped Liverpool’s scoring charts in eight of his nine campaigns.

New manager Andoni Iraola, who succeeded the dismissed Arne Slot, has already begun reshaping the squad. The Spaniard has endorsed a more proactive, attacking style of football, and Diomande’s attributes—after registering 12 goals and nine assists across 33 appearances last season—fit perfectly into this new approach. The youngster impressed during Ivory Coast’s World Cup triumph over Ecuador earlier this week and is now preparing for their next group-stage clash against Wirtz’s Germany on Saturday in Toronto.

Interest from European heavyweights

Liverpool are not the only club tracking Diomande. Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning European champions, are also monitoring his situation closely. However, the Reds are confident that their progress with the player’s agency, Roc Nation Sports, and the promise of regular first-team football give them an edge over the star-studded French side.

While alternative targets such as Yankuba Minteh and Matias Fernandez-Pardo remain under consideration, Diomande continues to be Liverpool’s main objective. Having already finalised a £34.5m signing of Victor Munoz from Osasuna, Liverpool’s leadership is determined to bring in the Ivorian attacker to maintain their competitiveness at the top level in the coming season.