Liverpool have their sights set on the Champions League; namely, overturning a two-goal deficit against imperious holders Paris Saint-Germain.
But FSG know that securing passage into next season’s edition is just as important. Given the volume of setbacks Liverpool have encountered across Arne Slot’s second season, few expect the Reds to advance, let alone beat Bayern Munich or Real Madrid for a place in the final.
But the Reds are in a comparatively strong position to do that, now only three points behind third-place Manchester United in the Premier League.
They will surely need that pay packet that comes along with Champions League qualification, especially with Mohamed Salah leaving the club at the end of the season.
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Salah leaves this summer, and it will be painful for those of a Liverpool persuasion. The Egyptian King has been the definitive superstar of the past decade on Merseyside, one of the true Premier League greats.
Replacing him is going to be tough, and no mistake, but it’s interesting to see the rumours emerging around Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
The Frenchman has emerged as one of the world’s standout attackers this season, but Die Roten have made it clear that he’s going nowhere, with any deal sure to eclipse the £125m fee paid for Alexander Isak last summer.
Instead, Liverpool could do what they do best and make a superstar themselves.
As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool have made Yan Diomande their priority target this summer, focusing on the young Ivorian as Bayern continue to reassert their position that Olise is going nowhere.
RB Leipzig don’t want to sell the 19-year-old, who they only signed from Leganes in Spain last summer, but they have set the price tag at £87m, and Liverpool are ‘determined’ to strike a deal, with the player, who has admitted that he “wants to join Liverpool”, more than open to a move.
Football FanCast sources revealed earlier this year that an agreement on personal terms was already close, with talks having been held with the player’s camp.
Liverpool do already have a top winger in Rio Ngumoha, but Diomande would partner the prodigy on the opposite flank, and the Reds could
Why Yan Diomande could be Liverpool’s next Rio Ngumoha
In Ngumoha, Liverpool have found a young superstar, and they could add to their ranks with Diomande, with the ageing Salah and the one-dimensional Cody Gakpo leaving too much to be desired this term.
Liverpool signed Ngumoha for a small fee, agreeing a tribunal with Chelsea for a maximum £7m transfer. Were a deal to be completed now, it would be heavy indeed.
It’s not a problem that FSG and Slot need to worry about, but they do need to get a deal for Diomande over the line, even though that one will come at a heavy price.
The teenage winger has scored 12 goals and supplied eight assists across all competitions, having played 31 matches. Not only a growing threat in front of goal, but he has been hailed for his commitment to different phases by journalist Bence Bocsak, who said, “His defensive workrate in all the games I’ve watched is top notch.”
Ngumoha hasn’t played enough football in the Premier League to cross-examine his wider data, but Diomande does carry himself in a similar way, direct and deadly on the break. His athleticism and energy echoes that of Anfield’s starboy, who has brought the X-factor back to Slot’s side.
|
League Comparison (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Salah |
Diomande |
|
Matches (starts) |
23 (20) |
28 (23) |
|
Goals |
6 |
11 |
|
Assists |
5 |
6 |
|
Shots (on target)* |
2.7 (0.7) |
1.6 (0.8) |
|
Big chances missed |
11 |
5 |
|
Accurate passes* |
22.5 (76%) |
27.5 (85%) |
|
Big chances created |
10 |
11 |
|
Key passes* |
2.0 |
1.6 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
0.5 (21%) |
3.5 (59%) |
|
Recoveries* |
3.0 |
4.4 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
0.8 |
1.4 |
|
Duels won* |
2.2 |
5.6 |
This is the same for the 17-year-old Ngumoha, who completed five ball recoveries and won two duels to complement his expertly dispatched goal against Fulham at the weekend.
Flair and seat-raising quality has been missing from Slot’s attacking system this season, but Ngumoha is an answer, and Diomande could be one too.
Whether Liverpool complete the deal remains to be seen, but this is one that the Reds would benefit from, replacing Salah with a potential superstar who carries just a scent of Ngumoha about him.
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