New Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola transfer theory emerges amid Liverpool links

Liverpool’s pursuit of Yan Diomande could take a twist and instead see them land Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.

The Reds have been linked with the 19-year-old prodigy after he has taken the Bundesliga by storm.

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The RB Leipzig wonderkid also impressed on the world stage on Sunday for the Ivory Coast in their opening game of the World Cup, as the they scored a last-minute winner against Ecuador.

He caused various problems for Arsenal‘s Piero Hincapie throughout the fixture, creating five goal-scoring opportunities, in his man-of-the-match display.

talkSPORT reported the Merseyside outfit’s interest in the teenager in February, with Andoni Iraola looking for a replacement for Mohamed Salah.

RB Leipzig’s prodigy

However, the German club have valued the young attacker at £100million after he scored 13 goals and secured ten assists across all competitions last season.

In 2025, Liverpool broke two British transfer records to sign Florian Wirtz for £116.5m and Alexander Isak from Newcastle for £125m.

If Liverpool were to pay up, it would be their third player who would cost nine figures.

Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the 19-year-old, however, he is not entertaining any transfer links until after the tournament.

However, talkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor believes a bidding war for the teenager, between the Reds and PSG, could cause a domino effect as he expects the French giants to win the race for his signature.

He said: “When you’re that good at that age and you have so long left of your career, if you don’t get injured of course, your price tag is going to be so much higher than a 24-year-old.

“I know he’s not proven amazingly yet but last season Diomande scored 12 goals and had nine assists in the league for Leipzig, he’s 19 years of age.

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“Over the season, he has 118 successful dribbles, 50 more than anyone else and last night he made Hincapie look ordinary. He twisted him left, right and centre on the big stage.

” I think he goes to PSG because of the way they’re performing at the moment and PSG will let Barcola go to Liverpool because they don’t need that many wingers.

“Diomande would 100 per cent get straight in the team and it looks like he would score more goals than Barcola, he likes to miss a lot of chances.

“Either way, Liverpool will get one of the two players but PSG will want the 19-year-old.”

The teenage trap

Andy Goldstein seemed hesitant on the move: I think if you’re putting a £100million price tag on a teenager and you’re bringing him to the Premier League.

“It’s like Jadon Sancho, United paid 75mil for him, if he comes over and it doesn’t work, it’s a big risk.”

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The market for elite teenage talent has exploded, with Agbonlahor pointing out that Bournemouth‘s newly acquired Brazilian star Rayan also has a £130million release clause.

Domino effect

talkSPORT understands that Barcola has asked to leave the French champions after making 21 league starts last season.

However, PSG’s stance is that the Frenchman is not for sale unless they secure another winger in this window.

While the international summer tournament is ongoing, it is unlikely any move will happen as the 23-year-old is currently in America with France, yet he didn’t start either of their pre-World Cup friendlies.

Barcola believes he has slipped down Luis Enrique‘s pecking order, with him opting for a front three of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele.