Liverpool are desperately attempting a pre-World Cup deal for a player who Man City held talks to sign, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
The Reds have reportedly sealed the appointment of Andoni Iraola as their next head coach (Fabrizio Romano), with the former Bournemouth manager now on his way to succeed Arne Slot at Anfield.
The Spaniard was strongly linked with the vacancy since Slot’s departure, and discussions are understood to have progressed significantly in recent days.
Iraola’s work at Bournemouth earned widespread praise across the Premier League, particularly after leading the club to a historic sixth-place finish and European qualification before his exit earlier this summer.
While Liverpool’s managerial situation is nearing a resolution, the club’s transfer plans are continuing in the background.
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One player firmly on the Reds’ radar is RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who has emerged as one of the most sought-after young attackers in European football following a standout campaign in Germany.
Liverpool set pre-World Cup deadline to seal Yan Diomande deal
Fresh information from Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg suggests Liverpool are accelerating their efforts to secure a deal.
According to Plettenberg’s latest update, Liverpool are doing everything possible to complete an agreement for Diomande before the World Cup gets underway later this month.
The journalist also reported that the 19-year-old has not yet committed himself to either Liverpool or PSG despite strong interest from both clubs.
RB Leipzig, meanwhile, remain hopeful they can keep the player for at least another season and are continuing attempts to convince him to stay.
The urgency from Liverpool’s side is perhaps the most significant aspect of the report.
Rather than allowing the situation to drift into the tournament, the Reds are believed to want clarity before the World Cup begins.
Liverpool view Diomande as one of their leading attacking targets and are pushing hard behind the scenes in an attempt to move ahead of rival clubs.
However, competition remains intense.
In a separate update published by Plettenberg at the end of May, it was revealed that both City and PSG had already held talks regarding Diomande’s situation.
At that stage, Liverpool were also pushing for a quick agreement, but no club had managed to secure a breakthrough. The report made clear that City’s interest was concrete rather than speculative, highlighting just how competitive the race has become.
That interest is understandable given Diomande’s spectacular rise over the last year.
The Ivory Coast international enjoyed a breakthrough season at RB Leipzig, establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting young forwards.
For Liverpool, the timing of the situation appears crucial, especially after losing club legend Mohamed Salah.
With Iraola expected to arrive and preparations for the new season already underway, the club are eager to make progress on one of their biggest attacking targets before the World Cup potentially complicates matters further.
Whether they can beat City and PSG to Diomande’s signature remains to be seen, but right now, they appear to be the club most actively pushing.
What is clear, however, is that Liverpool are desperately trying to get a deal over the line before June 11.
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