The race for Yan Diomande is over. And neither Premier League giant got him.
The 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger, who’s been tearing it up at the World Cup for Ivory Coast, has told people close to him that Paris Saint-Germain is his next stop if he leaves Germany this summer. That’s according to The Athletic, which reported Tuesday that Diomande believes in the project PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi and advisor Luis Campos are selling. He wants to play for Luis Enrique. He sees Paris as the place where he can win trophies consistently and maybe even chase a Ballon d’Or down the line.
Fair to say that stings for Liverpool, who thought they had the inside track after Manchester United backed out of the bidding war earlier this window.
How United and Liverpool Got Involved
Manchester United’s left wing situation has been a mess for a while now. Former manager Ruben Amorim sold off every natural winger he inherited, trying to force the squad into a wingback system. That didn’t work. He got fired, Michael Carrick took over, and the new boss has been patching things together with converted players like Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu. Dorgu, by the way, was originally bought to play wingback. He’s been so good further up the field that United briefly considered making that switch permanent and going shopping for a left back instead.
But INEOS changed course. They started scouting wide attackers hard. Iliman Ndiaye was on the list but Everton has been fighting like hell to keep him. Diomande came up as an option because United’s technical director Christopher Vivell knows him from Leipzig. Still, the price tag scared United off before they ever made a real run.
Liverpool had no such hesitation. They put together a package worth around €100 million. Leipzig said no, holding out for €130 million. The Reds thought they could close the gap. Then PSG stepped in.
What Diomande Brings
Diomande is raw but electric. He’s fast, direct, and comfortable on either flank. At the World Cup he’s been one of Ivory Coast’s most dangerous players, which only drove the price up. Leipzig isn’t in a rush to sell but the kid wants the move. And now he’s picked his destination.
PSG didn’t need to win a bidding war. They just had to convince the player they were the best long-term bet. For a 19 year old looking at the trophy case and the brand, Paris makes sense. Especially with Kylian Mbappé likely leaving soon. There’s a path to minutes and stardom.
As for United, they’re back to square one. Crysencio Summerville at West Ham is a possibility, but that move depends on Marcus Rashford’s future. If Rashford stays, United may not have the room or the budget for another attacker. If he goes, expect them to move fast on Summerville or someone like him.
Liverpool, meanwhile, just got outmaneuvered by PSG on a player they were confident about. That’s a tough look. They’ll move on to other targets but this one stings. The kid chose Paris over Anfield. It happens.
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