RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has acknowledged that reported interest from Liverpool and Chelsea is driving his performance after a breakout Bundesliga campaign. The 19-year-old is subject to an approximate €100 million (£86.6m) valuation by the German club following a season in which he recorded 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions. While RB Leipzig have protected his value with a contract running until June 2030, the Ivory Coast international's 20-goal involvements have made him a primary target for Premier League sides seeking elite attacking reinforcements this summer.
Diomande responds to Premier League speculation
Speaking to media outlets including Bulinews and AfricaFoot, Diomande confirmed that the external noise regarding his future has served as a catalyst for his form. "Imagine people say you go to Chelsea or Real Madrid to do this job; you're going to be happy and motivated to do more," Diomande stated. Despite the significant links to Anfield and Stamford Bridge, the teenager insisted his focus remains on the pitch: "It gives me a lot of motivation to see a lot of clubs speaking about you, but I'm focused. My job is on the pitch, and I'm fully committed to my current club." Diomande's rise has been exponential since his €20 million move from Leganés in the summer of 2025, highlighted by becoming the youngest player in 60 years to score a Bundesliga hat-trick during a December fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Tactical fit and squad requirements
The interest from Liverpool is framed by the confirmed departure of Mohamed Salah at the end of the 2025/26 season, leaving a profile-specific void on the right flank. Diomande’s statistical output mirrors the early Leipzig trajectory of Christopher Nkunku, though his reported £86.6m price tag reflects a significant premium on the five-year contract extension he signed in January. Chelsea's interest comes amid reported dissatisfaction with the consistency of recent high-profile winger acquisitions. Leipzig’s valuation represents a potential 400% profit on a player they have owned for just one season, continuing their established model of sourcing talent from secondary European leagues before selling at a significant markup to the Premier League's elite. While Diomande remains the focal point of the current market, no formal bids have been confirmed by either suitor as of May 2026.
Work on a potential deal is expected to intensify following the conclusion of the Bundesliga season as both Liverpool and Chelsea finalise their summer budgets.