Yan Diomande has welcomed speculation linking him with the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid Madridthe persistence of such rumors make him ‘happy’ and give him extra ‘motivation’ to succeed.
Diomande has enjoyed an outstanding debut season with RB Leipzig after arriving in Germany from Leganes last summer, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in his first 32 Bundesliga appearances.
The 19-year-old winger hit the ground running and has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting attacking talents in European football, with his blistering form attracting the attention of a number of Europe’s elite sides.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have both been credited with a strong interest in Diomande in recent months. of Premier League has also been considered a possible destination for the teenage sensation, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all strongly linked.
Leipzig’s hierarchy were adamant that Diomande was not for sale in the January transfer window, with the club’s leaders determined not to lose any key players during their fight for. Champions League qualification.
However, there is a growing acknowledgment that Leipzig may be powerless to prevent Diomande’s return to action at the end of the campaign as the Ivory Coast international continues to go from strength to strength.
United and Chelsea are believed to have been monitoring Diomande’s progress for some time, while Liverpool are also known to have sent scouts to watch the striker in action.
In response, Leipzig are said to have slapped £80m on the youngster.. Such a sale would represent a significant windfall for Leipzig, who signed the teenager from Leganes for a fee of just €20m (£17.5m).
‘Imagine people say you go to Chelsea OR Real Madrid (as examples of big clubs) to do this work…you will be happy and motivated to do more”, said Diomande. Athletics when asked about the incessant speculation over his future.
“I don’t think about it much because my focus is on the pitch, my job is to play football, that takes care of everything.
“But it gives me a lot of motivation to see people talking about me.”
Diomande has even surprised himself with the speed with which he has gone from playing high school association football in the United States to being considered one of the next big things in the world game.
“I didn’t imagine doing everything so quickly, but I have the ambition and vision to be one of the best players,” he added.
“Everything happened quickly and now I’m going step by step.
“I have a new dream every day. I won’t say anything crazy, but in five years I’d like to be one of the best.”
Before signing for Leganes, Diomande was close to a move to England and was even invited to train with Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
“I was young, so I didn’t know what was going on,” the Ivorian explained.
“But it was a pleasure to go to Chelsea and Crystal Palaceand watching players like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.’
For now, Diomande remains focused on seeing out a successful season with Leipzig and repaying the faith the club showed in him when he joined from Leganes last summer.
‘I will never forget this. It’s not just about playing football. Most people can only see what happens on the pitch, but the club has helped me a lot with my family and my mother.
“Young kids like me, I have a lot going on but nobody knows except the club. They did a lot for me so I’m grateful and all I can do is help them on the pitch.
“It’s a big motivation to repay what they gave me – 20 million euros is a big risk, but it’s not over, we have to keep working hard.”
“It is our aim to keep players with us for more than just one year, because otherwise you will not achieve any continuity,” said Leipzig boss Marcel Schafer. Striking when asked about the growing interest in Diomande in January.
“Our goal is to keep players with us for more than just one year, because otherwise you won’t get any continuity.”
Pressed on whether Leipzig were in the ‘driving seat’ when it came to Diomande’s future, Schafer, somewhat cryptically, replied: ‘It’s not a man sitting in the passenger seat either.
Everyone is sitting in the back seat.
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