Liverpool’s bid for Yan Diomande was actually £69million plus £17.3m, not £78m plus £8.6m, talkSPORT understands.
The Reds view Ivory Coast’s World Cup star Diomande as a priority, while Paris Saint-Germain could yet bid for him as well.
However, if Leipzig don’t engage over a sale, the Premier League giants are also prepared to move on to other targets.
The German club are believed to be holding out for £104m for the star winger, turning down Liverpool‘s opening bid.
It is not expected to be a drawn-out saga, as with Alexander Isak.
Liverpool waited all summer for Isak due to more complicated circumstances, and knowing his form, age and status as a proven Premier League goalscorer all supported that tactic.
This window, there is urgency to add in wide areas and as a result, Liverpool are not planning for a drawn-out saga with Diomande extending into August.
The £69m plus £17.3m offer was pretty swiftly rejected and the Reds are now assessing whether Leipzig are prepared to engage.
Liverpool will sign another attacker/winger in addition to Victor Muñoz, with adding pace being the key criteria.
Munoz was confirmed to have joined the club last week after Newcastle had their deal hijacked.
Along with Diomande, on the list are Koln’s Said El Mala, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
PSG star Bradley Barcola is another player Liverpool have looked at this summer.
Shine bright like a Diomande
Diomande made a dazzling start to this year’s World Cup with a man-of-the-match display as the Ivory Coast ran out 1-0 winners over Ecuador in their Group E opener.
And he followed that up with some great signs in their second clash against Germany, facing some of his Bundesliga rivals.
His impressive start to the tournament had continued his upward trajectory since joining Leipzig from Spanish side Levante.
The 19-year-old ended the 2025/26 campaign with 13 goals and 10 assists for Leipzig across all competitions.
His impressive performances for the club prompted several clubs across Europe to keep tabs on the electric winger.
Liverpool had earmarked the teenage whiz as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, who left the Reds at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Who else could join Liverpool this summer?
Along with the Diomande interest, Liverpool have also held talks with Lille over midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The 18-year-old looked wise beyond his years for Morocco in their draw against Brazil, delivering a midfield performance that had former World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit waxing lyrical.
And as mentioned, Paris Saint-Germain winger Barcola is another name on Liverpool’s radar.
Barcola, a left winger, is believed to be keen on an exit from the Parisians.
However, Liverpool are likely to face serious competition from Arsenal for Barcola as the Gunners are in the market for a new left winger.
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