Liverpool shifts focus to a new player after Yan Diomande says no
Liverpool have found another option after Yan Diomande, the Ivorian forward, chose Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain as his next team if he leaves this summer.
The Reds were keen to strengthen their attack for the new season, with Diomande as their top target. They looked set to sign him, but after RB Leipzig rejected their €100 million (£86.7m) offer, they faced a big setback on Sunday.
According to The Athletic, the young player has picked PSG because he believes in their plans and wants to play under coach Luis Enrique.
So, who might Liverpool go for next? Earlier this month, they were watching several forwards, like Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh, Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo, and FC Koln’s Said El Mala. While Diomande was still the main focus then, now that he’s chosen PSG, Liverpool seem very interested in El Mala, who had a great season at Koln.
Last season, El Mala scored 13 goals and helped with five assists in 36 Bundesliga games. Although he’s under contract until 2030, many clubs, including Tottenham and Newcastle, are keeping an eye on him.
German site FussballDaten said on Saturday that Liverpool planned to talk to El Mala and his agents if the Diomande deal hit problems, which it now has. The report adds that Liverpool might soon make a serious offer to Koln for the young star, who could be their important Plan B.
Back in April, when many clubs wanted El Mala, Koln’s president Jorn Stobbe warned about letting him go too soon. On the L’Immo podcast, he said, “We’d be crazy to just let such a great player go early.” He also mentioned that they plan to offer El Mala more than just money — a place where he can grow and develop as a top player.
El Mala joined Koln from local rivals Viktoria Koln in summer 2024 but was loaned back for the 2024-25 season because Koln had a transfer ban.
Brentford reportedly made a £43 million offer for El Mala in June, but the 19-year-old declined a move to the Premier League club, according to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg.