Liverpool Dekati Yan Diomande dan Bradley Barcola Bursa Transfer

Liverpool dilaporkan mengintensifkan upaya untuk merekrut winger RB Leipzig, Yan Diomande, setelah tawaran awal sebesar 86,8 juta poundsterling ditolak oleh klub Jerman tersebut.

Klub asal Merseyside itu kini sedang mempersiapkan tawaran baru demi mengamankan jasa pemain berusia 19 tahun asal Pantai Gading tersebut yang sedang bersinar di Piala Dunia 2026.

Mantan manajer Liverpool yang kini menjabat sebagai kepala sepak bola global Red Bull, Jurgen Klopp, memberikan pandangannya mengenai kualitas sang pemain pada Sabtu malam.

"Diomande is one of the best wingers in the world right now," kata Jurgen Klopp, Eksekutif Red Bull. "He is unstoppable in one-on-one situations. Nobody defends Diomande for 90 minutes."

Pihak RB Leipzig sendiri dikabarkan bersikap kokoh dan menginginkan nilai transfer mendekati 112 juta hingga 128 juta poundsterling karena menganggap Diomande sebagai talenta paling menarik sejak Erling Haaland.

Diomande sendiri sempat memberikan komentar mengenai masa depannya saat diwawancarai setelah memenangkan penghargaan pemain terbaik dalam pertandingan melawan Ekuador pada 15 Juni.

"I'm very happy that my future is in Leipzig," ujar Yan Diomande, Pemain RB Leipzig. "There are enough examples to show that this club is the perfect place for young players to develop at a high level. The bosses want to play fast-paced, attacking football – that's ideal for my skills."

Pemain muda tersebut juga sempat memberikan tanggapan mengenai peluang dirinya untuk pindah ke kompetisi sepak bola Inggris di masa depan.

"Would I be open to the Premier League? I don't know," tutur Yan Diomande, Pemain RB Leipzig. "I am an RB Leipzig player, but why not?

My agents will sort that out. As for me I am more focused on the World Cup, that's the most important thing. It doesn't happen all the time, it's only every four years, so I am making the most of it and for the rest, we'll see."

Pengamat sepak bola Jay Bothroyd turut memberikan analisisnya mengenai nilai transfer sang pemain dalam tayangan Sky Sports News.

"I'm not paying £112m for him. There’s no doubt about it, he’s a very good player, but £112m? That would describe you as one of the world’s best wingers; I'm not sure he is." kata Jay Bothroyd, Pengamat Sky Sports.

Bothroyd menilai bahwa tawaran awal Liverpool sudah menjadi angka yang adil untuk situasi transfer saat ini.

"If it is £86m, I think that’s a good valuation for Liverpool. I think that’s a fair valuation. Going above that, though, I can’t see that, and I don't think it would be good value for money." ujar Jay Bothroyd, Pengamat Sky Sports.

Ia menambahkan bahwa investasi besar harus disesuaikan dengan status sang pemain di level dunia.

"When you start spending that kind of money on a player, you have to be one of the best in the world in that position. I don't think he’s one of the best in the world. He’s got a very high ceiling because he’s so young, but now, if Liverpool are spending that money, they have to be spending it on one of the best in the world." tutur Jay Bothroyd, Pengamat Sky Sports.

Di sisi lain, mantan bek Manchester United Gary Neville memberikan pujian atas performa impresif Diomande bersama tim nasional Pantai Gading saat melawan Jerman.

"Diomande on this left-hand side has been absolutely brilliant. Even when they double or triple up, it’s not enough to contain him. He’s too good." kata Gary Neville, Pengamat ITV Sport.

Mantan penyerang Arsenal Ian Wright juga menyetujui pernyataan rekannya mengenai keunggulan fisik dan kemampuan teknis sang pemain di lapangan.

"He’s lived up to the hype. His pressing is brilliant; his taking on is brilliant; his pace is scary." cetus Ian Wright, Pengamat ITV Sport.

Selain Diomande, laporan dari Prancis yang dilansir oleh Le10Sport menyebutkan bahwa winger Paris Saint-Germain, Bradley Barcola, juga tertarik untuk bergabung dengan Liverpool musim panas ini setelah waktu bermainnya yang terbatas di Ligue 1 musim lalu.