Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool last summer. Turns out, he didn't entirely leave Liverpool alone. The former Reds boss is now operating as head of global soccer for the Red Bull group — which means he has direct influence over RB Leipzig transfers. And right now, that influence is working against his old club.
Liverpool have made Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande one of their top priorities this summer. With Mohamed Salah confirmed as leaving and Cody Gakpo's form this season best described as disappointing, the need for a quality wide option isn't a matter of debate. It's urgent.
Diomande, still a teenager, is reportedly valued at around €100m (£86m) by Leipzig — and that's if they're willing to sell at all. According to The Daily Mirror, they're currently not. Leipzig are "adamant" the player "is going nowhere this summer," even with Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain both pushing hard.
Leipzig hold all the cards
Fabrizio Romano confirmed this week that both Liverpool and PSG are "pushing" for Diomande, with the player weighing his options. Leipzig, freshly qualified for next season's Champions League, have countered by offering him an improved contract, a pay rise, and a release clause — essentially telling him there's no need to rush the exit.
That's a strong hand to play. Leipzig don't need the money, they don't need to sell, and with Klopp overseeing Red Bull's footballing operation, the internal pressure to hold their best assets has only hardened. The £86m price tag looks less like an opening bid and more like a locked door.
For Liverpool, the timing is awkward. Losing Salah and Andy Robertson in the same window already strips the squad of serious quality and experience. Adding Alisson's situation — now reportedly staying — provides some stability, but the attack still needs rebuilding. If Diomande stays unavailable, the fallback options likely aren't in the same conversation.
What Liverpool do next
Romano's assessment was blunt: "Leipzig will dictate the conditions." That's not a negotiating position — that's a wall. Liverpool will either meet Leipzig's price on Leipzig's terms, or they'll move on to a second choice.
- Salah and Robertson both leaving this summer
- Diomande valued at €100m+ by Leipzig
- Klopp's Red Bull role giving him oversight of Leipzig transfer decisions
- PSG also competing for Diomande, with Leipzig resisting both
The irony isn't subtle. The man who built Liverpool's last great era is now, structurally, one of the main obstacles to them building the next one.
