City are among a host of clubs monitoring RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, after Liverpool had an opening bid for the 19-year-old rejected, according to City Xtra.
The Ivory Coast international has emerged as one of European football’s most coveted teenagers following a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga, and Leipzig are standing firm on their valuation of more than £100m — a figure City are currently unwilling to match despite their admiration for the player.
City’s search for a new winger has been a recurring theme of the summer, with Hugo Viana and Enzo Maresca having identified the position as a priority. Diomande’s profile as a direct, chance-creating wide player is said to map closely to what the club are looking for, though the fee involved puts him some distance above the £84m ceiling City are reportedly working to for the position.
Liverpool have gone furthest of any interested party, tabling a formal bid worth around £86m that Leipzig turned down, while Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea are also credited with interest. Diomande is said to have given assurances to several suitors, including City, Liverpool and United, that he intends to join them — leaving all three under the impression they’re in pole position, even as Leipzig insist he could yet stay for a further season.
The situation sits alongside rather than instead of City’s other wide-attacking options this summer, with Francisco Trincão’s situation at Sporting Lisbon another live avenue Viana and Maresca are said to be exploring in parallel.
This piece draws on reporting from City Xtra and has not been independently confirmed by Manchester City or RB Leipzig.
