Yan Diomande transfer saga takes new twist as RB Leipzig issue public statement on Liverpool and PSG target

RB Leipzig have issued a public statement over the future of their £100 million-rated winger Yan Diomande amid significant interest from both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

Diomande is currently away at the World Cup with Ivory Coast, and helped the African nation reach the knockout stages.

The 19-year-old has started all three matches so far and provided an assist during their 2-0 win over Curacao - Ivory Coast's second win of the tournament.

At club level, Diomande scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in what was his debut Bundesliga season for Leipzig.

Those numbers and his performances have quickly attracted the interest of Europe's elite and PSG and Liverpool are pushing the strongest to sign him this summer.

Liverpool have concluded a deal for Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, with the Spain international set to officially become a Reds player on July 1 after they triggered his €40 million release clause.

But a second winger signing is in the pipeline, and it has been widely reported that Diomande is the top target.

A spanner was thrown into the works on Sunday, with The Athletic's David Ornstein reporting that the Ivorian had decided that he would prefer to join reigning Champions League holders PSG this summer.

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

The Reds will also play Champions League football next season after they finished in fifth place in the Premier League table, and have a new manager in Andoni Iraola following Arne Slot's sacking.

Diomande is not believed to have informed Liverpool chiefs that his final decision has been made, however, which means there could still be hope of completing one of the most expensive transfers of all-time involving a Premier League club.

But a fresh twist in the saga has arrived courtesy of RB Leipzig themselves, who have publicly stated quiet thus far around Diomande's future.

The German club, whose ownership and Red Bull branding has always been a controversial topic in German football, have gained something of a reputation when it comes to signing young players and eventually selling them on for significant profits.

They do likewise at Austrian club RB Salzburg, such as in the case of Erling Haaland when they sold him to Borussia Dortmund prior to his eventual Manchester City move.

It has been expected, therefore, that Leipzig would likely not stand in Diomande's way when it comes to a move - if their asking price is met.

But according to RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer, that appears not necessarily be the case.

RB Leipzig director speaks on Diomande future

Schafer, who made 256 Bundesliga appearances for Wolfsburg during his playing career, has stated that Diomande is not going anywhere as far as his current club are concerned.

Marcel Schafer is sporting director at RB Leipzig (Image: Getty)

Speaking to German newspaper Bild, he says that Leipzig are 'not backing down' from their stance that the Ivorian international will be playing for the club next season.

"Our clear intention is: Yan Diomande will play for RB Leipzig next year," Schafer stated. "And we're not backing down from that! We know what we have in him."

He added, however, that there will come a point in which the winger will switch clubs.

"Of course, if Yan continues like this, the time will come when we give him the opportunity to take the next step," he conceded. "But not this year."