Liverpool’s make surprise Salah plan as monster Diomande bid launched

Liverpool are ready to move for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, but while this would seem to signal the end of Mohamed Salah at Anfield, that may not be the case in a surprise update on the Reds’ transfer plans.

Salah has endured a turbulent season at Anfield, during which he has failed to find anything like his best form, while he has clashed with manager Arne Slot. With a year left on his deal, he is expected to move to the Saudi Pro League at the end of the campaign, yet according to TeamTalk, this will not necessarily be the case.

Liverpool may be moving early to sign Diomande, but it is claimed that if he does sign, that will not necessarily be the end of the road for Salah at Anfield.

Diomande in does not mean Salah out

Salah’s future is not tied to the fate of Diomande.

Although the 33-year-old increasingly looks likely to depart Anfield in the summer, TeamTalk claims that if he does decide to stay and see out his contract, the Reds will still move for the 19-year-old RB Leipzig star.

Diomande’s versatility makes this a possibility as he can play off either wing.

However, Liverpool face the prospect of having a logjam of players in attack. The decision to sign both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike for the No.9 role in attack last summer looks like an error, and Salah’s battle with Diomande on the right of the forward line could also become a thorny issue.

Can Salah see off Diomande challenge?

Diomande has been the second most improved player in the whole of the Bundesliga this season, according to data analytics experts SciSport.

He lags only Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl in terms of the increase of his SciSkill, which is a measure calculated using hundreds of in-game data points.

His value has jumped to 82.7, having risen an impressive 27.6 points since the start of the season. Karl, meanwhile, has absolutely exploded at Bayern, climbing by 41.1.

If Diomande continues to improve at this rate, there is every chance he could force the out-of-form Salah out of the Liverpool starting XI – and the evidence from this season is that it will not go down well.

Liverpool’s Diomande offer

Liverpool are seeking to steal a march on some of Europe’s biggest clubs by becoming the first to move for Diomande, a 19-year-old winger that RB Leipzig have put an asking price of between €80-100 million on.

He has been watched by the Anfield club in each of his last four matches – and he has contributed a goal or an assist in each of these games.

The Reds believe he can become a “major star” and have decided to make a transfer approach.

Diomande, meanwhile, is aware of the club’s interest and those close to him have reportedly urged the Reds to make a bid.

Liverpool are ready to follow up on this. With interest also coming from PSG, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham, the Merseyside club believe that getting in early could be key to securing the player’s signature.

Related stories:

Arne Slot sack: The Liverpool non-negotiable that changes everything for Mo Salah

Why Liverpool see Yan Diomande as the next Mohamed Salah – and how close he really is

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