RB Leipzig have turned down an opening bid of £85.4m from Real Madrid for winger Yan Diomande, according to Sky Germany. The offer comprised an initial fee of £76.9m plus £8.5m in add-ons — and Leipzig show no signs of budging.

Real Madrid entered the race as one of several elite clubs chasing Diomande this summer. The club have already reshaped their squad considerably under the returned Jose Mourinho, bringing in Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Marc Cucurella during this transfer window.

Liverpool also in the picture

Liverpool have expressed interest in Diomande and are prepared to spend up to £85m to secure the teenager. That figure alone would shatter the Premier League's record transfer fee for a player of his age, eclipsing the £58.9m Manchester United paid to sign Leny Yoro from Lille in the summer of 2024.

Despite that significant outlay, Liverpool's position is that they will not exceed the £85m mark — a ceiling that Leipzig appear unwilling to accept.

Diomande's heart is set on PSG

The player himself has made his preference clear: Diomande wants to join Paris Saint-Germain. He has already agreed personal terms with the Champions League winners on a contract running until 2031. However, PSG are yet to submit a formal bid to Leipzig, even though PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has held direct talks with the German club.

Leipzig's position is equally firm — they will only release Diomande for an exceptional fee, regardless of where he wants to go.

From Leganés to the world stage

Diomande's rise has been remarkable. Just 12 months ago, his entire senior record amounted to a handful of starts for Leganés as the Spanish club were relegated from LaLiga. He scored in two of those six appearances — against Espanyol and Valladolid — in a team that failed to score in the other four matches.

That was enough to convince RB Leipzig to invest €20m and bring him to the Bundesliga. Once there, Diomande flourished. Electric, unpredictable, and a nightmare to contain, the winger possesses the natural gifts that coaches cannot instil — and has proved receptive enough to coaching to keep improving the ones they can. Now, the game's biggest clubs are lining up for him, and Leipzig know it.