Real Madrid wants a deal. But RB Leipzig won’t budge.
The German club just rejected an £85.4m bid for 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande. Specifically, the formal offer included a £76.9m initial fee and £8.5m in add-ons.
According to unconfirmed reports from Sky in Germany, Real Madrid now leads the race. They already agreed to personal terms with the player. That timing complicates things. Diomande previously accepted a contract through 2031 with Paris Saint-Germain.
If you’re tracking this transfer window, you know the stakes are high. Over the past year, Diomande moved from CD Leganés to RB Leipzig for €20m. He made six starts for Leganés during a relegation season. Then he exploded in Germany. In his debut season, he recorded 12 goals and 8 assists and helped the Ivory Coast reach the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following the return of manager Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid has aggressively added players. The club signed Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Marc Cucurella. As of July 26, the situation is an open race with six weeks left in the transfer window. Leipzig remains firm on demanding a higher fee for the teenager.
Documents show the £85.4m rejected bid included performance bonuses, and Liverpool is reluctant to exceed £85m. Despite Manchester City preparing to match the €100m bid within the last 24 hours, Real Madrid remains the frontrunner.
The Premier League Transfer Record Threat
Premier League teams Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal are actively pursuing the player alongside PSG, setting up a massive bidding war for the teenager’s signature over the final six weeks of the window.
If Liverpool matched the £85m bid, it would break the Premier League transfer record for a teenager. That mark was set in 2024 when Manchester United signed Leny Yoro for £58.9m. Manchester City is reportedly willing to match the asking price, but nothing is finalized.
Right now, the ball is in Leipzig’s court.