RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande expressed that it “would be a pleasure” to play in France, revealing his long-standing admiration for Paris Saint-Germain, a team he has loved since childhood, amidst interest from Liverpool.
According to ESPN sources, Liverpool is one of several clubs keeping an eye on the 19-year-old, who is coming off a breakout season in the Bundesliga, where he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists, earning him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award.
RB Leipzig has set an initial asking price of €130 million ($150 million) for any club interested in signing the young talent, as reported by ESPN sources.
With PSG reportedly interested, Diomande discussed his fondness for Luis Enrique’s squad, stating, “Paris Saint-Germain is a team I’ve loved since I was little. I believe my father was a PSG supporter. It’s a club I admire as a football fan,” he told French media.
“However, I’m not focusing on the future. I’m concentrating on the World Cup, and then we’ll see what happens. Clubs will negotiate, and we’ll take it from there,” he remarked.
Diomande reiterated that while PSG is a club he dreams of playing for in the future, he remains committed to RB Leipzig as one of the key players for the Ivory Coast ahead of the World Cup.
– RB Leipzig demands €130 million for Yan Diomande – sources
– Diomande remains committed to RB Leipzig amid Liverpool interest – sources
Diomande added, “Yes, it would be an honor to play for one of the biggest clubs like PSG. Playing in France is always enjoyable for me, especially with the language, it wouldn’t be hard to adapt. But I’m an RB Leipzig player, that’s my focus.”
When asked about PSG’s recent success in the Champions League, Diomande said, “I was really happy to see PSG win because my father is a supporter. It felt great, and I would like to play for them one day; I admire them a lot.”
Earlier in May, he was more reserved regarding his future, stating, “I have a contract here until 2030, so I have four more years. What happens after that? I don’t know. Right now, I’m a Leipzig player.”
Contributions to this report were made by ESPN’s Tom Hamilton and Ed Dove.