Liverpool Interest in Yan Diomande Could Bring Man City and PSG Competition

Liverpool’s search for attacking reinforcements was a major theme on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, as Dave Davis and Lewis Steele discussed the scale of the summer facing Arne Slot and Richard Hughes.

With Ibrahima Konate set to leave Liverpool and other squad issues already mounting, Steele made clear that the forward line remains one of the club’s key priorities. “I do think they’ll end up signing two forwards,” he told Davis, adding that he expected Liverpool to target “an out and out winger who can go on the outside” and “one of these versatile forwards.”

Yan Diomande was one of the names repeatedly raised in that context. Davis said “Diomande is the one that again keeps getting mentioned” and referred to reports from Germany that “Liverpool are pushing for a quick agreement.”

Man City and PSG could complicate Liverpool plans

The concern for Liverpool, as Davis put it, is that “City are looking at wingers” and that Paris Saint Germain have also been mentioned. “If we’re up against PSG and City, this is going to be a nightmare deal to try and get done,” Davis said.

Steele agreed that the competition would make matters difficult. “Yeah, it is because they’ve got more financial might behind them,” he said, before adding that the player’s own preference would be crucial. “It’s just whether who Diomande, for example, who the players would want to join.”

Steele was careful not to overstate the position. He said, “If I’m putting myself in the shoes of Diomande, for example, I don’t know who I would pick.” His assessment was that each club could present an attractive case.

Liverpool may face financial pressure

Steele suggested that if Liverpool, Manchester City and PSG were all in the equation, the decision could come down to financial terms. “Then you may be thinking it does come down to money because you look at all of those projects and they sound enticing,” he said.

That is where Liverpool could have a challenge. Steele said “it’s going to be tough to convince anyone” because “if City want a winger, they probably can give you better wages.”

He also outlined how PSG could sell their project. “PSG you can sort of say well we win the league every year,” Steele said, adding that they might soon be able to present themselves as “back to back European champions.”

Arne Slot’s Liverpool project under scrutiny

The wider point in the conversation was whether Liverpool remain as attractive as they were last summer. Steele said, “Whereas Liverpool you’re looking at them thinking is it as enticing as it was this time 12 months ago. I don’t think it is.”

Davis also compared the situation to Florian Wirtz, saying that last summer he “had the pick of those three clubs and he chose Liverpool as title winners.” He added, “It’s a very different scenario 12 months later.”

For Liverpool, that makes the Diomande pursuit part of a bigger test. Steele said Liverpool “have made moves in terms of Diomande especially maybe a Barcola too,” but also emphasised the cost. “There’s no way you can sign two forwards for anything under 130, 140 million between them,” he said, calling that “on the conservative side.”

His final warning was clear. “All the clubs around Europe know that Liverpool need forwards,” Steele said. If he were RB Leipzig, he added, the stance would be, “Well you desperately need my player. So another 10 million please and thank you.”