Real Madrid in talks over nine-figure signing of former Leganés winger

And then... Yan Diomande. Amid a parade of names such as Michael Olise, Alessandro Bastoni and Rodrigo Hernández, Real Madrid have fired up the machine in pursuit of the 19-year-old Ivorian winger and are already in talks with RB Leipzig over a potential deal.

How much would Diomande cost Real Madrid?

According to Bild, Los Blancos have opened negotiations with an initial offer of €100 million ($113 million), a bid the German club considers insufficient. The gap, however, does not appear insurmountable: Leipzig are said to value the player at around €130 million ($148 million), with the transfer ultimately likely to be completed for a figure in the neighborhood of €120 million ($137 million).

The competition for Diomande’s signature is elite. Liverpool also saw a €100 million bid rejected by Leipzig, while Paris Saint-Germain remain firmly in the race for the attacker, who has previously identified the reigning European champions as his preferred destination. Madrid’s emergence, however, has reshuffled the deck, much as it did last year with Franco Mastantuono, who at one stage looked destined for the Parc des Princes. For starters, as Diario AS has learned, Diomande has already put a preliminary five-year agreement with PSG on hold.

The deal also has another Madrid connection. Diomande shares the same agency as Vinícius Júnior, Roc Nation Sports, Jay-Z’s U.S.-based representation firm. The agency is also involved in negotiations over the Brazilian star’s contract extension with Madrid, with his current deal set to expire next summer.

Meanwhile, at least publicly, Leipzig remain unfazed, even if keeping hold of the player is shaping up to be an extremely difficult task. Sporting director Marcel Schäfer was unequivocal on Wednesday: “Our intention is for Yan Diomande to play for Leipzig next season.” The Red Bull-owned club is also working to extend his contract beyond 2030.

Leganés set for Diomande windfall

Just a year ago, Diomande signed his first major contract after generating a €20 million ($23 million) transfer fee for Leganés, despite having only 10 LaLiga appearances to his name. Fifteen goals and 11 assists in his debut season in the Bundesliga have been enough to make him one of Europe’s breakout stars. He also lived up to the hype at this summer’s World Cup, helping Ivory Coast reach the round of 32 and delivering several standout performances, including a goal-scoring display against Ecuador.

Diomande’s youth, pace, relentless work rate, one-on-one ability and versatility to play on either flank help explain his soaring market value. And at Butarque, they are enjoying every minute of it. Leganés are closely monitoring developments, having retained 10% of the profit from any future sale. In other words, a transfer fee approaching €100 million would deliver another significant windfall to the club’s coffers. Added to the amount received in last summer’s transfer, Leganés could end up banking around €30 million ($34 million) from a player who made just 10 top-flight appearances for the club.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.