Manchester United are reportedly eyeing RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande after seemingly missing out on a £65million swoop for Antoine Semenyo.
Antoine Semenyo was linked with a move to Man Utd from Bournemouth.(Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Manchester United have been handed a boost in their proposed chase for RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande, with the club’s chief Oliver Mintzlaff admitting that they could sell him if the price was right.
Diomande has been named as a possible alternative target to Antoine Semenyo for United. The Bournemouth man looks to be heading to rivals Manchester City, despite interest from United, leaving Ruben Amorim‘s side looking at other potential options moving forward.
Diomande has caught the eye for RB Leipzig this season – with him being mooted as a potential option for United. Sky Sports report that the valuation of the player is around £52-£61million.
While RB Leipzig will be keen to keep hold of their young talent, it’s been hinted that a big offer could tempt the German club into cashing-in on his signature.
In an interview with German outlet Welt, Mintzlaff said: “We want to ensure that we don’t just develop players for one year. But that we can also retain top talents for longer.
“We still see ourselves as a top club in the Bundesliga. And for young players like (Assan) Ouedraogo or Diomande, it would be good to take the next steps with us and consistently perform at a high level.
“However, it will remain the case in the future that we will occasionally have to let our players go. We still need to generate transfer fees and have players in our squad who are attractive to absolute top clubs.
“Generally speaking, you should never rule anything out in football. If there’s an exorbitant offer far above market value, and we are convinced that it’s a unique opportunity for a significant profit, then we have to be honest with ourselves, discuss it, and keep a cool head.”
The 19-year-old is currently on Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) duty with the Ivory Coast. So far this season, he has scored six times and provided a further three assists in 14 Bundesliga games.
Manchester United have been credited with an interest in RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande. (Image: Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
United are not alone in their interest with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also claimed to be tracking his development closely.
While the comments are seemingly positive news for United, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will launch a move during the January window – or even next summer.
It’s reported that United are not certain to pursue an alternative to Semenyo in the upcoming window, but could potentially accelerate their interest if other clubs do.
Instead, that might in turn be one for future windows, with eyes also on midfield targets. The position has been identified as a priority for United with names such as Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba all being linked.
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