Liverpool's private hopes regarding Florian Wirtz at the World Cup have come to light as the club pursues a major transfer target. The Reds are locked in negotiations to secure their second signing of the summer window, and Germany's World Cup match against Ivory Coast could play a significant role.
Liverpool's Transfer Target: Yan Diomande
Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, is a busy man currently. He will surely make time in his schedule to watch Germany vs Ivory Coast at the World Cup on Saturday evening. Hughes has already swooped to capture Osasuna winger Victor Munoz for €40 million (£34.6 million), and he is now working to land Liverpool's number one transfer target: Yan Diomande.
Liverpool want the RB Leipzig star to replace Mohamed Salah and have not been put off by the German club's reluctance to sell. They have reportedly seen a €100 million (£86.7 million) offer rejected by Leipzig, who only signed the 19-year-old from Leganes for £17.3 million last summer.
Diomande scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in 36 appearances in his debut campaign for Leipzig, making him hot property. Paris Saint-Germain are also vying for his signature, but Leipzig are in a strong position. Diomande is under contract for another four years, and there are talks about him signing a new and improved deal.
He is reportedly valued at €120 million (£104 million), and Leipzig are willing to play hard ball with Liverpool and PSG. “We don’t have to say yes to any offer whatsoever,” the club's sporting director Marcel Schafer said recently. “Yan doesn’t have a release clause. That means we’re in the driver’s seat and everyone else is in the back seat.”
Diomande himself appears to be on the same page as his club. “My contract here is until 2030, so I have four more years,” he said last month. “What's going to happen afterwards? I don't know. I am a Leipzig player. I will never forget this opportunity. It's not only about playing football, but the club helped me a lot off the pitch.”
World Cup Impact on Negotiations
According to German newspaper Bild, Leipzig are holding firm in negotiations with Liverpool and PSG in the hope that Diomande's performances at the World Cup for Ivory Coast could drive up the asking price and attract other interested parties. Diomande impressed in his country's 1-0 win over Ecuador on Monday, earning the man of the match award. He will be given an even bigger stage when Ivory Coast take on Germany in Toronto on Saturday night.
Germany sit top of Group E after thrashing Curacao 7-1 in their opener. Liverpool will be hoping that Julian Nagelsmann's side triumph once more. Liverpool have already seen enough to know that Diomande is the right player to step into Mohamed Salah's shoes at Anfield. Having made up their mind, they could do without the young winger tearing up the World Cup in front of an audience of millions.
Their initial offer was reportedly a fixed fee of €90 million (£78 million) plus a potential €10 million (£8.6 million) in bonuses. That was always going to be the starting position, with Leipzig in no rush to shake hands, and with the World Cup ongoing.
Florian Wirtz's Role
Liverpool will therefore be rooting for Florian Wirtz even more than normal on Saturday night. The Reds spent £116.5 million on the German attacking midfielder last summer and are yet to see much return on their investment. The former Bayer Leverkusen star was bright without getting on the scoresheet in the opener against Curacao. Liverpool could really do with him dominating proceedings against Ivory Coast and taking the spotlight off Diomande on the opposing team.
Leipzig already have plenty of leverage in negotiations, which have reached the 'extensive' stage, according to Bild. There are many factors at play in a complex game of chess between all the people involved. Hughes will have his fingers crossed for a quiet night for Diomande on this occasion.
