Liverpool dealt brutal blow as Yan Diomande makes final decision on summer transfer

Yan Diomande has named the club he wants to join this summer, and it's not good news for Liverpool fans.

Despite the fact that it remains shut across most of Europe's leagues, the summer transfer window for Premier League clubs is officially open.

The Premier League's summer 2026 transfer window officially opened on Monday 15 June, with several clubs already busy completing deals ahead of pre-season.

Among the busiest clubs so far this summer is Liverpool, who secured the surprise signing of Spain international Victor - after triggering the Osasuna winger’s €40million (£34.6m) release clause.

Since then, Liverpool have remained busy as they look to sign another forward in the coming weeks, with RB Leipzig's Diomande widely reported to be the top target.

Liverpool have already had a bid totalling €100m (£86.2m) rejected by the German side, but were reportedly preparing a second bid for the Ivory Coast international, who was believed to be eager to make the move to Anfield.

However, it appears that any hopes of Diomande signing for Liverpool may have been ended as a report from David Ornstein has revealed that the 19-year-old has chosen Paris Saint-Germain as his next destination if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer.

The report states that Diomande has been convinced by the project led by PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos and is eager to play under head coach Luis Enrique.

Additionally, the youngster is eager to both regularly compete for trophies and later win the Ballon d'Or and believes he has a better chance of doing so in Paris.

Following Diomande's decision, it is believed that his team will now make a major push to finalise a transfer to PSG in the coming weeks.

Who will Liverpool sign if Diomande joins PSG

Following the surprise news, a further report from Ben Jacobs added that Liverpool are yet to have been told directly by Diomande or his team that he doesn't want to join, with the Premier Leauge club said to have made good progress on the deal on the player's side.

But, the report adds that sources close to the winger have made it clear that he wants to play under Enrique.

And, should Liverpool lose out on their top target, the club are prepared with a shortlist of several other options to pursue over the summer.

READ MORE: Liverpool 'closing in' on second summer signing you've probably never heard of

If Diomande is to join PSG, then Bradley Barcola will certainly be at the top of that list with the Frenchman recently linked with a move away from the Parc des Princes.

Despite reports that Barcola is becoming increasingly unhappy at PSG, the French champions have so far been closed off to potential exit, but the arrival of Diomande could change this.

Should this be the case, then Liverpool would not be the only club interested in making a move for Barcola, with Arsenal also linked.

Elsewhere on the shortlist FC Köln's Said El Mala, Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Yankuba Minteh from Brighton are all said to be potential targets for Liverpool, but it remains to be seen if pursuits for any of the players will materialise.