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Jamie Carragher has thrown his weight behind Yan Diomande as the man to fill Mohamed Salah’s boots at Anfield. The former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit highlighted the RB Leipzig winger’s striking resemblance to both Salah and Sadio Mane, two players who defined Liverpool’s attacking identity for the better part of a decade.
There’s just one problem. Liverpool’s opening bid of roughly £86 million was reportedly rejected by Leipzig, and Paris Saint-Germain is said to already have a verbal agreement in place with the player.
Why Carragher sees Diomande as the fit
Carragher made his case on June 22, pointing to Diomande’s playing style as the key selling point. The 19-year-old Ivorian operates as a left winger with the kind of direct, defense-shredding approach that made Salah and Mane so devastating during Liverpool’s peak years under Jurgen Klopp.
Diomande, born November 14, 2006, turned 19 late last year and has already shown he belongs among senior professionals. His debut Bundesliga campaign produced 12 goals, a tally that placed him among the league’s most productive wingers. He also ranked highly for dribbles and chance creation, two metrics that separate highlight-reel players from genuinely impactful ones.
His performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Ivory Coast only amplified the buzz.
The transfer battle heating up
Liverpool clearly got the memo. The club made Diomande a priority summer target as questions about Salah’s future continue to linger. Salah’s contract situation remains uncertain, and Liverpool’s hierarchy appears to be planning for life without the Egyptian King.
The £86 million opening bid was substantial by any standard. Leipzig said no.
Reports indicate the French club has already secured a verbal agreement with Diomande, which, if accurate, puts Liverpool in the uncomfortable position of chasing a player who may have already made up his mind.
Plan B and the bigger picture
Liverpool isn’t putting all its eggs in the Diomande basket. The club is reportedly evaluating alternative winger options, with names like Nico Williams, Said El Mala, and Yankuba Minteh surfacing as potential targets.
Williams, the Athletic Bilbao and Spain winger, represents a more established option. El Mala and Minteh offer different profiles but fit the general brief of young, dynamic wide forwards who could grow into a long-term Salah replacement role.
Twelve Bundesliga goals at 19, combined with Diomande’s contract running until 2030, underlines both his value and Leipzig’s leverage in any negotiation. The next few weeks will determine whether Diomande ends up at Anfield, the Parc des Princes, or somewhere else entirely. What’s already clear is that Liverpool recognizes the urgency of the Salah succession question and is willing to spend serious money — £86 million and potentially more — to answer it.
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