Madrid have registered their interest in RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, entering talks that have shifted the balance in a transfer race previously led by Paris Saint-Germain, according to The Athletic.
The Ivory Coast international, 19, had made PSG his preferred destination, but Leipzig have been holding out for a fee closer to €130 million, with Liverpool also having made an approach worth close to €100 million earlier in the summer.
Diomande, who joined Leipzig from Leganes last July, scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, and impressed further by helping Ivory Coast reach the World Cup’s round of 32.
Real Madrid have been busy since Jose Mourinho’s return as head coach, already signing Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella.
The club are also working on a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri, with club-to-club talks yet to begin but Madrid confident an agreement can be reached.
MORE: City handed Rodri dilemma after surgery news
Rodri, who captained Spain to World Cup glory and won the tournament’s Golden Ball, has entered the final year of his City contract and has previously expressed his desire to one day play in Spain.
“Would I like to play in Spain again, in La Liga, in Madrid? I would like to return, yes, obviously,” Rodri said in March. “You can’t turn down one of the world’s best clubs.”
New City manager Enzo Maresca addressed the speculation at his first press conference on Friday, confirming Rodri would undergo back surgery on Monday.
City have already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer and are also pushing to sign 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille as they look to strengthen their midfield options.
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