Leipzig chief responds to rising interest in 18-year-old wonderkid

RB Leipzig boss Marcel Schäfer has addressed reports of European giants tracking 18-year-old Yan Diomandé

18-year-old Yan Diomandé has hit the ground running in Germany following his summer move from CD Leganés to RB Leipzig for a reported €20 million fee.

According to Sport Bild, scouts from all over Europe regularly attend Leipzig matches to watch the young Ivorian winger in action, with his suitors including Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Given this, it seems increasingly likely that offers could arrive for Diomandé next summer, just a year after his move to Germany.

“If that were to happen, it would be another recognition of our work,” Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer told Sport Bild.

“However, we are planning firmly with our squad beyond the summer and have always emphasized that we want to build a new core after the squad overhaul. That core is currently taking shape and will bring us a lot of joy,” he added.

While Schäfer is impressed with the way Diomandé has adapted to the Bundesliga, he believes the winger still has plenty of room to grow.

“Yan has adapted very quickly to the Bundesliga with us, especially considering he is still in his first year as a professional and very young,” Schäfer said.

“He is on a good path, but like all players, he still has a lot of room to develop. We are very excited to work on that together in the coming years.”

With no release clause in Diomandé’s contract, which runs until 2030, Leipzig hold all the cards in future negotiations and can rightfully hope he will become the club’s first sale to surpass the €100 million mark.

Currently, the club’s record departure is Josko Gvardiol, who was sold to Manchester City for €90 million.