Liverpoolovi transfer planovi suočavaju se s preprekom: Yan Diomande možda neće stići na Anfield ove sezone
The summer transfer window is rapidly approaching, and the biggest cloud currently hanging over Anfield is the impending departure of club legend Mohamed Salah. Replacing the Egyptian King is going to be a near-impossible task, but Liverpool’s recruitment team genuinely thought they had found the perfect heir apparent: RB Leipzig’s explosive teenage sensation, Yan Diomande. However, if the latest updates out of Germany are accurate, the Reds might be forced to put their blockbuster plans on hold for at least another year. According to well-connected German transfer insider Christian Falk, Liverpool are currently facing a massive roadblock in their pursuit of the 19-year-old Ivorian. Instead of simply cashing in this summer, Leipzig are actively drawing up plans to hand Diomande a lucrative new contract. The Bundesliga club reportedly wants to significantly bump his salary while inserting a fixed release clause that wouldn’t become active until 2027. They know they have a generational talent on their hands, and they want to squeeze one more elite season out of him before inevitably selling him to a European giant for a premium fee. With Diomande’s new agency, Roc Nation, reportedly holding talks, Leipzig are desperate to deter immediate bids, internally slapping a staggering €100 million (£87m) valuation on him just to sit at the negotiating table this summer. It’s incredibly easy to see why the Anfield hierarchy is so desperate to bring Diomande to Merseyside. Since arriving in Germany from Spanish side Leganés just last summer, following an unusual early career path that included playing high school and academy football in the United States, the youngster has completely torn the Bundesliga apart. Boasting blistering pace and lethal decision-making in the final third, he has already racked up 20 direct goal contributions in just 30 league appearances this season. Liverpool finds themselves in a tricky situation. They need a marquee winger right now to fill the massive void Salah will leave behind when he departs at the end of the season. But if Diomande ultimately agrees to Leipzig’s new terms, the Reds will have to make a tough call. ‘Maybe he’s back next week’ – Virgil van Dijk gives encouraging update on Mohamed Salah
Letošnji prijelazni rok se brzo približava, a najveća briga koja visi nad Anfieldom je skorašnji odlazak klupske legende Mohameda Salaha. Zamijeniti Egipatskog kralja bit će skoro nemoguće, ali Liverpoolov rekrutni tim zaista je mislio da su pronašli savršenog nasljednika: eksplozivnu tinejdžersku senzaciju iz RB Leipziga, Yana Diomande. Međutim, ako su najnovije vijesti iz Njemačke tačne, Crveni bi mogli biti prisiljeni odgoditi svoje velike planove za barem još jednu godinu. Prema dobro povezanom njemačkom transfer insajderu Christianu Falku, Liverpool se trenutno suočava s ogromnom preprekom u svojoj potrazi za 19-godišnjim Ivorcem. Umjesto jednostavnog dobitka ovog ljeta, Leipzig aktivno razmatra planove da pruži Diomandeu unosan novi ugovor. Klub iz Bundeslige navodno želi značajno povećati njegovu plaću i uvesti fiksnu klauzulu o raskidu koja neće stupiti na snagu sve do 2027. Znaju da imaju talent generacijskog razreda u svojim rukama i žele iscediti još jednu elitnu sezonu iz njega prije nego ga neizbježno prodaju europskom divu po premijskoj cijeni. S Diomandeovom novom agencijom, Roc Nation, navodno obavljaju razgovore, a Leipzig je očajan da odvrati odmah ponude, internim stavljanjem ogromne revaulacije od 100 miliona eura (87 milijuna funti) samo da sjedi za pregovaračkim stolom ovog ljeta. Lako je vidjeti zašto je uprava Anfielda toliko očajna dovesti Diomanda na Merseyside. Od kada je stigao u Njemačku iz španske ekipe Leganés tek prošlog ljeta, slijedeći neobičnu početnu karijeru koja je uključivala igranje nogometa u višoj školi i akademiji u Sjedinjenim Državama, tinejdžer je potpuno rastrgao Bundesligu. Ponosan na brzinu i smrtonosno odlučivanje u zadnjoj trećini, već je sakupio 20 direktnih golova u samo 30 nastupa u ligi ove sezone. Liverpool se nalazi u teškoj situaciji. Trenutno im treba istaknuti krilni napadač kako bi popunili ogromnu prazninu koju će Salah ostaviti za sobom kada napusti klub na kraju sezone. Ali ako Diomande na kraju pristane na nove uslove Leipziga, Crveni će morati donijeti tešku odluku. ‘Možda se vrati sljedeće sedmice’ – Virgil van Dijk daje ohrabrujuće vijesti o Mohamedu Salahu.
