Liverpool insiders indicate £85m winger is the early frontrunner to be signed as Salah's replacement - journalist

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Liverpool insiders are reportedly beginning to talk more openly about the prospect of signing Yan Diomande this summer.As they prepare for Mohamed Salah‘s exit, the Reds are widely expected to sign at least one new winger ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.Diomande has been heavily linked with Liverpool after an excellent breakout campaign with RB Leipzig, and according to journalist Lewis Steele, the 19-year-old can be seen as the early frontrunner to replace Salah. Who replaces Mohamed Salah against Man United on Sunday? 👀 Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Yan Diomande is Liverpool’s new winger frontrunnerDiomande has been delivering magic week after week for Leipzig towards the end of the season, and it is no surprise that he is in the frame to join Liverpool.Speaking to Anfield Index on Monday, Steele claimed that the Ivorian is now being spoken about in the same kind of terms as Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike were 12 months ago.“Diomande is the name that keeps coming up and up and up in every conversation you have about recruitment,” the journalist said.

Those names were so widely circulated at this time of year and they both ended up being ones that Liverpool signed. “I don’t think anyone was surprised by them and I wouldn’t be surprised at all [if Diomande joins].”Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Robert Lewandowski to Liverpool: Why Barcelona’s legendary striker could end up at AnfieldLiverpool weighing up £85m price-tagThough Diomande is clearly a player Liverpool like a lot, Leipzig are not going to let him go for cheap this summer.According to Steele, the German club’s £85m valuation is likely to be the biggest stumbling block, with the Reds considering whether it represents value for money or not.“I think Liverpool are just a bit unsure over the price, £85m we’re talking, which is an awful lot of money for a player who is obviously very, very talented but only really has a couple of top-flight seasons under his belt,” he said.“His cold hard numbers in terms of goals and assists aren’t overly eye-catching either, but he does look a really good player.

I think it’s fair to say that he is the front-runner to come in as a winger, but a lot can change and Liverpool are probably just weighing up whether £85m is a fair price or not.” You can only pick ONE player for Liverpool to sign this summer, who is it? So, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Diomande happens, but it’s a wait and see, let Leipzig’s season be over first.”With Leipzig’s season ending one week before Liverpool’s on May 16th, fans won’t have to wait long before transfer talk really begins to ramp up even further.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox