WORST VALUE DEALS | THIS SUMMER

 

REAL MADRID SET TO SIGN ONE OF THE WORLD'S HOTTEST TALENT AFTER $195M BID

 

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Real Madrid look set to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande after Paris Saint-Germain withdrew from negotiations, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Diomande is one of the hottest properties in this transfer window, having starred for Ivory Coast at the World Cup, following a breakout season where he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in the Bundesliga.

Ornstein reports that Los Blancos had a bid rejected by Leipzig ‘around 10 days ago’ and returned with a new offer ‘worth €120million (A$195m, which includes a €100m (A$163m) fixed fee.’

The German outfit are reportedly yet to respond to that proposal, which is ‘expected to be turned down’, but the two clubs expect a deal will eventually be reached.

Meanwhile, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reports that a deal has been reached for a fee ‘in excess of €100m’.

He reports that Diomande will fly to Madrid this week for medical tests and to sign a five-year deal.

Real Madrid expected to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. 1st bid rejected ~10 days ago, 2nd (€100m fixed, €120m package) set to be rejected but agreement likely soon. #PSG out; 19yo returns to #RBLeipzig on Mon with wish to join #RMFC @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/xc6EPzjCdr — David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 26, 2026

PSG were right in the mix to sign Diomande, who was said to be keen on joining the reigning Champions League winners, but were put off by the asking price and have now turned their attention to other options, amid reports Bradley Barcola is set to leave the club.

The Athletic report that Leipzig are ‘holding out for a fee closer to €130m (A$212m).

Should they achieve that, Diomande would become the eight most expensive player in football history, behind Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Alexander Isak, Morgan Rogers, Elliott Anderson and Philippe Coutinho, per Transfermarkt.

That would be quite extraordinary when you consider where the 19-year-old was just a few years ago.

It was barely 18 months ago that Diamonde was playing for DME Sports Academy in Florida, before joining LaLiga side Leganes, where he made three reserve team appearances before being called up to the first team.

Leipzig paid his €20m release clause to bring him to the Bundesliga, where he exploded immediately. They look set to make a huge profit on the winger.

He could become the most expensive Real Madrid player ever, surpassing the fee the Spanish giants paid to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in 2023, with the club set for an enormous transfer window having brought Jose Mourinho back as head coach.

They’ve already signed Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva, while reports suggest Madrid are also working on a deal to sign World Cup-winning Spain captain Rodri from Manchester City.

- JAKE ROSENGARTEN

YAN DIOMANDE MAKES FINAL TRANSFER DECISION AS REAL MADRID JOIN ARSENAL AND LIVERPOOL FOR £100M RB LEIPZIG STAR

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RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has outlined his transfer preference amid mounting interest from Real Madrid, PSG, Arsenal, and Liverpool. The £100m-rated Ivory Coast international impressed during a breakout season in Germany and at the 2026 World Cup, leaving him keen on a summer departure despite Leipzig's public stance that he is not for sale.

Diomande signals summer exit

Leipzig winger Diomande has reportedly made his final decision regarding his next destination amid a fierce transfer battle involving PSG, Liverpool, Arsenal and Madrid. According to The Athletic, Los Blancos have even opened direct negotiations with Leipzig to sign the £100 million-rated winger after he registered 12 goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga and impressed in leading Ivory Coast to the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup. Despite Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer insisting the player is going nowhere, Diomande remains hopeful of finalising a move this summer.

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Winger outlines transfer stance

Asked about the speculation surrounding interest from Europe's elite during the World Cup, the young Ivorian star openly confirmed his expectation to leave Leipzig while leaving negotiations in his agent's hands.

Speaking to reporters, he stated: "First of all I think, like I said, my dream is playing for my country, and to make history with my country. I don't have Instagram anymore. I don't have TikTok as well, so I can't see anything! But I expect to leave, of course. And I have an agent, he's going to manage the rest. But for me, the most important thing right now is the focus on the World Cup with my country."

Meanwhile, regarding his boyhood club, Diomande previously told French media: "Paris Saint-Germain is a team I've loved since I was little. I think my father was a PSG supporter. It's a team I admire as a football fan."

Mourinho enters transfer race

A separate report from TEAMtalkclaims that Diomande's primary preference remains a move to PSG, though the winger is open to joining Madrid if the French giants fail to agree a fee with Leipzig. The race has intensified further after the Spanish giants, now led by new manager Jose Mourinho, entered the frame for the attacker as part of their squad overhaul. Elsewhere, Arsenal have also joined the pursuit after their attempt to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa ended in failure.

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Leipzig demand premium fee

Diomande has now returned to pre-season training with Leipzig following his post-World Cup break. PSG are expected to submit a formal offer swiftly to prevent Madrid or the Premier League duo from hijacking the deal for their top target. Leipzig hold a strong negotiating position and are adamant they will only part ways with their prized asset if a suitor meets his valuation.

- Adhe Makayasa

LIVERPOOL MAY HAVE ALREADY FOUND THEIR MOHAMED SALAH REPLACEMENT

There is a standout candidate being tipped to replace the Egyptian King

GOODBYE: MOHAMMED SALAH
REUTERS

Liverpool may have already found their replacement for Mohammed Salah.

The Egyptian star announced on Tuesday that this season will be his last for the Reds, calling time on a trophy-laden nine-year spell on Merseyside.

Salah will hope to add to his bursting trophy cabinet during his final months at the club, having already picked up two Premier League winners' medals and lifted the Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

It has been reported that talks between Liverpool and Salah over a summer exit have been ongoing for months, with the idea of cutting his contract short first discussed in December.

Salah signed a new two-year deal last summer, but has forfeited the final 12 months - valued at around £20million - to be allowed to leave Anfield on a free transfer.

It has allowed Liverpool to begin casting their eye over potential replacements, and one name is ringing louder than others.

Yan Diomande is the favourite with the bookmakers to be Salah's replacement at Anfield.

The RB Leipzig star has been attracting interest from Europe's top clubs after a stellar first season in the Bundesliga, which has seen him rise to prominence after making his breakthrough with Leganes in La Liga.

Premier League pair Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen are joint-second in the market, followed closely by Tottenham duo Dejan Kulusevski and Mohamed Kudus, and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh.

The cheapest option may prove to be Harry Wilson, who left Liverpool to join Fulham and is currently set to be a free agent in the summer. Much like Salah, Christian Pulisic left Chelsea to prove his worth elsewhere and is now an attractive option at AC Milan.

Perhaps more eye-catching options include Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola, both of Paris Saint-Germain, while Rodrygo has regularly been tipped to leave Real Madrid.

Mohamed Salah replacement odds

Yan Diomande: 3/1

Anthony Gordon: 4/1

Jarrod Bowen: 4/1

Dejan Kulusevski: 5/1

Mohamed Kudus: 5/1

Harry Wilson: 5/1

Yankuba Minteh: 5/1

Christian Pulisic: 7/1

Rodrygo: 8/1

Kenan Yildiz: 8/1

Michael Olise: 10/1

Desire Doue: 12/1

Bradley Barcola: 12/1

(Odds via BettingLounge, subject to change.)

- ALEX YOUNG