Arsenal believe they are still in the race (Picture: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Arsenal are among the clubs to have told RB Leipzig they are prepared to pay huge money for Yan Diomande should his proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain not go through this summer.
The RB Leipzig winger is one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe with Liverpool making the 19-year-old their top target to replace Mohamed Salah on Merseyside.
The Reds saw an initial bid of £69m plus £17m in add-ons rejected for the Ivory Coast international and were intent on making him their first major signing of the summer.
PSG are still to make an official offer, however. Bild report the lack of progress has seen a string of clubs signal their intent to pay a €100m (£86m) transfer fee with Arsenal among those teams telling Leipzig they are ready to make their bid.
Left wing is an area of the pitch Mikel Arteta is eager to strengthen this summer having already offloaded Leandro Trossard.
Manchester City and Real Madrid are the two other clubs who are ready to pay that huge fee to sign Diomande. RB Leipzig are believed to be holding out for €120million (£102m) for their prized asset.
Yan Diomande on the radar of all of Europe’s elite teams (Picture: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)
The German newspaper reports the Ivorian’s entourage, including talent agency Roc Nation, are now putting pressure on PSG, eager for the club to accelerate talks and move the transfer forward with the French capital the player’s preferred destination.
His representatives are aware of the growing risks of rival clubs moving in while there is still no fee agreed.
PSG is his preferred destination, however (Picture: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
Speaking during Ivory Coast’s World Cup campaign, Diomande said: ‘Paris Saint-Germain is a team I’ve loved since I was little,’ Diomande said.
‘My father is a Paris Saint-Germain supporter, it’s a team I admire as a football fan.’
Arsenal are closing in on a deal for another wideman in Christos Tzolis, who will join from Club Brugge for a fee of £34m.
The Greek winger will undergo a medical this week.
