Three forwards on list as Yan Diomande moves away from Liverpool deal

Three forwards on list as Yan Diomande moves away from Liverpool deal Liverpool’s chase for Yan Diomande is now at an end. Over the weekend it emerged that the 19-year-old attacker would join Paris Saint-Germain if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer. Of course there are no guarantees that happens - with the German side keen to tie him down to a new contract and PSG believed to be prepared to wait until 2027 to land their man. The outgoing Premier League champions will no doubt be frustrated. It appears as though the Reds worked long and hard on this deal for Diomande - cultivating relationships with his entourage and Red Bull. A bid materialised - worth €100m overall - but that wasn’t enough to convince Leipzig. Liverpool were also reported to be in the process of launching an improved bid - with the German-record fee Barcelona paid to Borussia Dortmund for Ousmane Dembele back in 2017 seen as the benchmark. That second offer would be futile in the current environment with the young Cote d’Ivoire forward seemingly declaring his preference for a move to the double European champions. LFC's alternatives to Diomande But Richard Hughes NEEDS a solution. Diomande was a declared priority - and Liverpool require speed and one-v-one ability out wide. Mohamed Salah is leaving, Federico Chiesa is expected to join him on the exit ramp, and the Anfield club will find themselves short of options. And of all the other names mentioned as potential Liverpool targets - who would be the best stylistic fit? The obvious contender to come into the club instead of Diomande is Bradley Barcola. The 23-year-old PSG attacker would end up surplus to requirements if Diomande arrives at Parc des Princes. The French international is stalling on a new contract amid uncertainty over his role in the team. Right-footed and capable of playing either side Barcola would perhaps be a decent back-up choice to Diomande. He can be a little wasteful in his finishing - as evidenced in the UEFA Champions League final - but is a long-term Liverpool target. Barcola has only got two years left on his current deal but PSG’s asking price of around £130m is immensely high. Watch out for Said El Mala That sum could prove to be prohibitive - leading Liverpool on to other targets. And one player named as a “Plan B” in recent days is Said El Mala. For those unfamiliar he is a 19-year-old Koln attacker who made a decisive Bundesliga breakthrough during the 2025/26 season. Perhaps due to the form of Diomande at Leipzig - and Koln’s relatively modest standing - El Mala flew a little under the radar. The German under-21 international got 13 goals and four assists in the top flight - both figures season highs for the Billy Goats. El Mala has been mentioned in dispatches as a Liverpool target without anything concrete really materialising. There is no doubt he is heading to the top - and Koln know the talent they have on their hands - placing a reported €50m price tag against him. He is under contract until 2030 - and perhaps one drawback for this deal could be his preference to play on the left. Would Rayan fancy an Iraola reunion? It looks like space will open up first and foremost for a starter on the right. And that brings us to Rayan. Andoni Iraola got brilliant returns from the 19-year-old Brazil international during the short time they worked together at Bournemouth . Signed from Vasco da Gama in January for a fee of around £26m the powerful left-footer hit the ground running. He got five goals and two assists in only 15 Premier League matches - a very healthy return for a rookie. Bournemouth WILL cash in on Rayan - with a clause worth around £130m reported to be kicking in from January 2027. Liverpool clearly have got a significant sum set aside for a winger transfer and they would be well-advised to bring forward a deal for Rayan to this summer. Although he prefers the opposite foot to Diomande Rayan would perhaps be a closer match to a younger version of Mohamed Salah. Liverpool put all their eggs in the Diomande basket and now it’s time to consider alternatives. There isn’t long to go until preseason and Richard Hughes and Iraola will be needing clarity before long.