Liverpool’s 2025/26 campaign is — thankfully — almost over, and with Champions League football for next season somehow virtually secured heading into Sunday’s finale, the summer transfer buzz has officially begun.
It’s abundantly clear that Liverpool — and, most importantly, Arne Slot — must deliver a colossal summer to hit next season running and ease growing concerns that the club is slipping toward mediocrity.
Thankfully, on Friday, reliable club journalist David Ornstein reported that the Reds are the “leading candidates” to sign winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, a player who could inject much-needed life into a struggling attack.
So, if Liverpool are able to fend off competition from clubs like PSG and bring the exciting young talent to Anfield, what exactly could he bring to the table?
Durability and influence
The Bundesliga may not be quite as grueling as the Premier League — given the slightly shorter season and the sheer carnage English football’s set-piece-heavy style can create — but one thing that immediately stands out about Diomande is his availability.
Out of a possible 34 league matches, Diomande featured in all but one, and that reliability could prove invaluable for a Liverpool side that spent much of the season dealing with injuries to key players such as Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, and several others as the campaign wore on.
Having logged a massive 2,724 minutes across the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, Diomande appeared in an astounding 81% of Leipzig’s total minutes this season.
That relentless engine and willingness to stay involved throughout matches is exactly the sort of trait that tends to translate well to Merseyside, much like it has for Dominik Szoboszlai, who has become one of Liverpool’s few consistent bright spots this year.
Beyond his durability, Diomande’s attacking production also makes a compelling case for Liverpool to seriously consider a move.
Contributing to 32% of Leipzig’s goals this season, the winger finished with 21 goal contributions and established himself as a central figure in one of Germany’s strongest attacks, given RB's third-place domestic finish.
In comparison, Liverpool’s current first-choice left winger Cody Gakpo, managed just 12 G/A's despite possessing significantly more top-level experience.
Between his remarkable fitness record, nonstop work rate, and major influence on a side that finished third domestically, Diomande possesses an extremely enticing profile for a Liverpool team desperately in need of fresh energy and attacking consistency.
Arriving from a talent factory
Speaking of the comparison to Dominik Szoboszlai, Diomande’s current club is also the alma mater of the Hungarian midfielder and several other world-class talents, as RB Leipzig continue to strengthen their reputation as one of Europe’s premier talent factories.
Having developed players such as Szoboszlai, Joshua Kimmich, Matheus Cunha and many others, Leipzig have become a breeding ground for footballers who go on to thrive at the highest level in the Premier League, elsewhere in the Bundesliga, or across Europe as a whole.
And it’s not just Szoboszlai with shared Liverpool-Leipzig ties, either.
While former Red Bull defender Ibrahima Konaté has endured an up-and-down season this year, there is little doubt he played a major role in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season. Former Red Naby Keïta also arrived at Anfield through the Leipzig pipeline, further highlighting the club’s proven connection with German-developed talent.
Given Liverpool’s emphasis on data-driven recruitment and Leipzig’s demonstrated ability to identify and develop talent from across the globe, Diomande’s breakout in Germany feels like exactly the sort of profile the Reds should be targeting.
Considering how fruitful Liverpool’s previous business with the club has been, placing faith once again in a side that consistently produces elite-level talent could prove to be a wise move.
Continuing the youth movement
Perhaps most importantly, Diomande is still just 19 years old, and with the core of Liverpool’s squad continuing to age, rejuvenating the squad with younger talent must be a major priority for the board.
Fortunately, Liverpool already appear to recognize that reality. 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha is enjoying a breakout campaign with the club, 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni is expected to play a significant role next season after recovering from a gruesome injury, and 20-year-old Jérémy Jacquet will also arrive this summer as part of the club’s youth movement.
While Arne Slot has at times appeared hesitant to throw younger players into the fire, signing Diomande would only further emphasize the need to integrate youth into the first team.
Given how instrumental Jürgen Klopp was in playing young talent during his tenure, embracing that pathway is part of Liverpool’s identity that Slot cannot afford to shy away from.
In an era where players such as Lamine Yamal are already capable of dominating matches at the highest level as teenagers, it is smart business for Liverpool to continue stockpiling some of the best young talents in world football — both for the present and for the future.
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