Liverpool quickly choose a new winger target after the Yan Diomande story takes a surprising turn
Liverpool’s chase for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has taken an interesting turn, as the Reds have found another summer target to consider. Even though club football is currently paused because of the 2026 World Cup, Liverpool has already been busy in the transfer market.
After hiring Andoni Iraola earlier this month (June), Liverpool announced the signing of Spain’s winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna. The 22-year-old signed a six-year deal after Liverpool met his €40 million (£34.6 million) release clause. They’re also interested in Rayo Vallecano right-back Andrei Ratiu and have high hopes for Paris Saint-Germain’s winger Bradley Barcola.
Still, Liverpool’s main focus is RB Leipzig’s Diomande, who is playing at the World Cup with Ivory Coast right now. The club’s first offer, around £86 million, was turned down by Leipzig because they want the young player to stay for at least another season. On June 25, reports said Liverpool had raised their offer to £100 million.
However, Sky Germany’s Philipp Hinze clarified that this isn’t true. He posted on X: “To clear things up: reports saying Leipzig rejected a new €116m offer from Liverpool are false. These claims were shared without checking facts. No official second offer has been made yet. Stay tuned for updates.”
While Diomande’s future is up in the air, Liverpool is also showing more interest in Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup. The 22-year-old Norwegian left winger, currently at the World Cup with Norway, has caught the eye of Liverpool and their Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Clubs like Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Como are also keeping an eye on him.
Schjelderup joined Benfica from Nordsjælland in 2023 and has scored 15 goals with 15 assists in 86 games, helping his team win the Primeira Liga in 2023 and the Taça da Liga in 2025. Portuguese media say Benfica would consider offers around £34.5 million for him.
When he was 16, Schjelderup turned down Liverpool to join Nordsjælland instead. He also had trials with Bayern Munich and Juventus. Reflecting on his choice, he said: “It was tough turning down Liverpool because you grow up watching big clubs and then hearing they want you makes your head spin. But my dad and agents helped me make the right call. It stung for me and my dad not to join Liverpool, but moving here meant getting into a first-team setup instead of just an academy. I started in the under-19s but knew I could step up when ready. Honestly, my plan worked better than expected. Maybe in the future I’ll join a big team, but for now, this was the best step for me. When I’m ready, I’ll take the next step.”