RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande continues to look a promising candidate to sign for Liverpool in the summer, but as the Ivory Coast winger makes more positive headlines, there is mixed news for the Anfield club.
Diomande scored his 12th Bundesliga goal of the season away against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, a brilliant solo effort, as Leipzig claimed a 3-1 win that enhances their Champions League challenge.
In doing so, he became the first teenager to reach this match since the 2019/20 season, when Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho both achieved the feat for Borussia Dortmund.
Such achievements are only enhancing his reputation – and his price tag – putting the versatile winger further into the shop window.
Liverpool have been credited with being the side most intent on signing him as they seek a replacement for the departing Mohamed Salah, but there is mixed news for the Reds on that front.
PSG enter Diomande race – but there’s a silver lining for Liverpool
The bad news is that Champions League winners PSG want to sign Diomande, according to a report from L’Equipe.
The Ligue 1 side have already met with representatives of Diomande as well as Arsenal left winger Gabriel Martinelli, who are both represented by Roc Nation.
But while this update represents a blow for Liverpool on one front, it offers the possibility on another.
Should PSG seriously move for Diomande, it will hint that Bradley Barcola is ready to leave the club. With a year left on his contract, the France international winger’s contract talks appear to have stalled and there is a genuine possibility that he could leave. Liverpool have long been linked with an interest in the former Lyon wide man.
Barcola or Diomande: Who is the better option for Liverpool?
Barcola is the stronger option for Liverpool this summer, according to data analytics firm SciSports, which gives each player a SciSkill rating based on hundreds of in-game data points.
While the rise of Diomande has been impressive, SciSports still rates Barcola as the stronger player, with the Frenchman also having a marginally higher ceiling than the Leipzig star.
Both are also likely to come in at a similar price. Leipzig are said to want around €80 million for Diomande, while Barcola’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at just over €70m.
Given the uncertainty over Diomande’s long-term development, he looks like a greater gamble. With Liverpool set to enter the post-Salah era, it may be that they opt for the comparative certainty of Barcola.
