Liverpool told to push boat out to sign 'really talented' breakout World Cup transfer Yan Diomande as Mohamed Salah replacement
The Egyptian's departure has left Andoni Iraola's options on the wings looking rather thin
If you didn't know Yan Diomande before the World Cup began, you certainly do now.
The 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger claimed 12 goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig last season, and has carried on his impressive form with the Ivory Coast with eye-catching performances against Ecuador and Germany.
Liverpool already had their eye on Diomande as a potential Mohamed Salah replacement, with reports suggesting they have had a transfer bid worth €100m (£86.7m) rejected amid claims of rival interest from PSG.
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Yan Diomande 'would add a lot to Liverpool' - Alan Shearer
Former England striker Alan Shearer believes Andoni Iraola desperately needs a player like Diomande, telling Betfair: "Liverpool need a host of players in their forward line because with Salah gone, you are left thinking...who have they got?
"They've got Isak. They've got [Florian] Wirtz. They've got Ekitike, but he's going to be out [injured]. And you’ve got [Cody] Gakpo, and [Ryan] Ngumoha.
"There's no doubt they'll need another striker in there, and a forward that's ready to go, and ready to come in and score 15 goals.
"They are linked with Yan Diomande and he's a really talented player.
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"He would add a lot to Liverpool, but what the fee would be, I'm not quite sure.
"It would obviously be a lot of money, and I guess if they do buy him, then they've watched him several times.
"So, I think it would be a good buy for them."
For FourFourTwo, it comes down to just how much value Liverpool would put on signing another player for a forward line that received big investment last summer.
Shearer is not wrong in his assessment that the squad is light on the wings, even if Ngumoha were to step up to play a more prominent role.
Gakpo and Federico Chiesa have their uses, but are not wingers you would especially want to build a renewed title charge around.
A youngster like Diomande who has already shown what he can do in a Big Five league and still has room to get better feels like a very very solid investment.
Shearer's claims that they need another centre-forward is valid given Ekitike looks set to miss roughly the first half the season - and a 15-goal striker, rather than a 30-goal player, feels about right given the Frenchman was a rare shining light for the side last season and will not be out indefinitely.
It is clear that Liverpool desperately need recruits in the back line, however, so quite how far they deign to go with that may come down to a resource allocation issue and what sales they are able to secure in the window.
Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
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