Liverpool are making big changes to their forward line once again this summer.
Last year sporting director Richard Hughes oversaw £450m worth of spending - including around £200m on new strikers. In came Alexander Isak for a British record £125m fee and Hugo Ekitike was added for £69m.
The defending Premier League champions also concluded a deal for Florian Wirtz - worth up to £116m.
And while spending last summer concentrated on fortifying the centre of attack this year the alterations will come in the wide positions.
With question marks around Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha it’s not hard to envisage a new left-wing option being added.
On the other side Mohamed Salah will officially leave once his contract ends on June 30 and Federico Chiesa will join the Egyptian King in the departure lounge.
The No1 contender to arrive - and who could play either side - is Yan Diomande. Liverpool have had their eyes on the Ivorian talent for around six months now - with the winger having signed for RB Leipzig from Leganes last summer.
The 19-year-old only cost €20m but now looks set to move on for a fee worth around €100m. Leipzig are entitled to have their demands met considering Diomande is under contract until 2030 and has made no noise about leaving.
In fact the German side are keen to extend his contract and sell him for an even bigger sum in 2027. That hasn’t put the suitors off however with the Liverpool Echo reporting that talks are underway for the emerging African superstar.
“A forward or two is definitely on the agenda and it is fair to reflect that talks are ongoing with RB Leipzig for Yan Diomande, the Ivory Coast forward,” the report reads.
Whether Liverpool are successful in getting the price down is another matter altogether. But it’s not hard to see why Diomande is the ideal candidate. He can play left or right - even though his numbers are significantly better when he plays from the right.
Diomande is also set to take a starring role for Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in North America.
And Leipzig will be well aware that significant performances from him in that tournament could mean even more money being raked in when it eventually comes time to sell.
