RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer insists it will not be easy to lure rumoured Liverpool target Yan Diomande away from the club
Liverpool have been linked with Yan Diomande(Image: Getty Images)
RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer has insisted that the Bundesliga outfit are fully in control of Yan Diomande’s future despite the Ivory Coast international continuing to be linked with a move to Liverpool and a host of leading clubs. The 19-year-old joined the German side in a £20m move from Leganes last summer, despite only making 10 appearances for the Spanish side.
In his first season in the Bundesliga, he has been one of the leading talents and boasts seven goals and four assists from just 18 appearances in all competitions.
Such form has seen him linked with a swift exit from RB Leipzig, with the likes of Liverpool, Man City and Manchester United all finding themselves linked with the winger.
READ MORE: Manager confirms Liverpool beat Inter Milan to new signing as he admits transfer regretREAD MORE: Marc Guehi aims pointed dig at Liverpool as he explains why he chose to make Man City transfer
But with Diomande on a contract until 2030 without a release clause, Schafer insists Leipzig hold all of the cards when it comes to the teenager’s future.
“There isn’t even anyone sitting in the passenger seat. Everyone is sitting in the back seat,” Schafer said at a media round-table, as quoted by bullinews.comwhen asked whether RB Leipzig are in the “front seat” when it comes to the player’s future.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated LFC Facebook page
Meanwhile, he also revealed Jurgen Klopp’s role in RB Leipzig’s capture of the winger, revealing both the former Liverpool boss and technical director Mario Gomez both urged the club to sign Diomande.
“We saw the data and immediately knew that we had to take a detailed look at the player, both on video and in live matches, and that’s what we did,” he recalled. “Our advantage was that we were there before he had even played 200 minutes in the league.
“We already knew he had the profile we were looking for that summer. We didn’t need to have five conversations about signing him because the profile was clear. It was a 100 percent match from our side.
“It was clear to us that if we had the chance, we would go for it. When we started negotiations with Leganes, they said there was such high competition for the player that we needed to pay that amount if we wanted him.
“Leganes were clear, honest and transparent. It was a huge amount given where the player was at the time, but we knew he was our number-one favourite.
“We wanted the player, even if we had to pay a little more than many expected. We didn’t care, because it was an ideal situation.
“We were even in touch with Jurgen Klopp and Mario Gomez, who saw the data and video clips, and everybody said ‘go, go, go.’”
Diomande recently revealed that he is a boyhood Liverpool fan and would love to play for the Reds at Anfield one day.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “I want to play at Anfield, I want to play for Liverpool. I’m a big fan of Liverpool.
“I’m a big fan of Liverpool because my father’s dream is to see me play at Anfield. So that’s my dream.
“You know, to fulfil my father’s dream is a dream for me too.”
