Liverpool and PSG told to wait as Diomande shines on World Cup debut for Ivory Coast

Yan Diomande announced himself on the global stage with a dazzling World Cup debut for Ivory Coast against Ecuador, but his international manager has made clear that any decision on the RB Leipzig winger’s future will have to wait until the tournament is over.

The 19-year-old did not register a goal or assist in the Group E opener, yet he created five goalscoring opportunities and caused Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié persistent problems throughout. His display has only intensified speculation linking him with Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, both of whom have been credited with serious interest in the teenager for months.

Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé moved quickly to shut down the transfer noise after the win. “When we were in France, during the preparation, journalists told me he was about to sign with PSG,” Faé said. “Here, they tell me he’s about to sign with Liverpool. I don’t know, but for now, he will focus on the World Cup, and then afterwards, he can think about the rest of his career.”

Diomande himself had added fuel to the speculation just last week, publicly expressing admiration for PSG. Liverpool, however, have long been considered the frontrunners, with the club reportedly tracking the winger for an extended period.

Faé was effusive in his praise of the player’s character as well as his ability. “Yan — what can I say? I can’t put it into words. He’s very talented, but beyond the talent, he’s very young and he’ll improve. He’s a kid who works hard, has real team spirit, laughs with everyone, and he listens. He listens to the technical staff whenever he’s given advice, and tries to do his best. It’s easy to work with someone like Yan — he has what is needed, plus he can give you the victory and was a real challenge for Hincapié, a Champions League finalist.”

Diomande is currently valued at €90 million according to Transfermarkt. Ivory Coast face Germany on Saturday, 20 June in their second Group E fixture, giving the winger another high-profile stage on which to press his case — whatever his eventual destination turns out to be.