Liverpool urged to pursue €100m Yan Diomande as Salah's departure leaves wings bare

Liverpool have been urged to push harder for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande after a reported €100m (£86.7m) opening bid was rejected, with the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international emerging as the leading candidate to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah’s departure.

Diomande delivered one of the standout individual seasons in the Bundesliga last term, registering 12 goals and nine assists, and has continued that form at the World Cup with eye-catching performances against Ecuador and Germany. Reports have also linked Paris Saint-Germain with a rival move for the teenager.

Former England striker Alan Shearer argued that Liverpool’s forward line is dangerously thin without Salah, telling Betfair: “Liverpool need a host of players in their forward line because with Salah gone, you are left thinking — who have they got? They’ve got Isak. They’ve got Wirtz. They’ve got Ekitike, but he’s going to be out injured. And you’ve got Gakpo and Ngumoha.”

Shearer was unambiguous about Diomande’s potential impact at Anfield. “He would add a lot to Liverpool,” he said. “It would obviously be a lot of money, and I guess if they do buy him, then they’ve watched him several times. So I think it would be a good buy for them.”

The assessment of Liverpool’s wing options is difficult to dispute. Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa offer squad depth but neither is considered a player to anchor a title challenge around, and while Ryan Ngumoha could step into a more prominent role, the 17-year-old is unproven at the highest level.

The situation in attack is further complicated by Hugo Ekitike’s injury, which is expected to rule him out for roughly the first half of the season. Shearer’s call for a striker capable of contributing around 15 goals reflects the reality that Ekitike was one of Liverpool’s brighter attacking performers last season and remains part of Andoni Iraola’s plans once fit.

Defence, however, is widely regarded as the more pressing structural need, meaning any decision on Diomande may ultimately hinge on how Liverpool prioritise their remaining transfer budget and what outgoing deals they can complete before the window closes. A player who has already demonstrated his quality in a top-five European league at 19, with clear room for further development, represents the profile Liverpool have historically targeted — the question is whether the finances align.