Diomande in Leipzig — Move to Real Not Yet Finalized

Paris Criticizes Transfer Fee and Salary Demands

Diomande’s agents, Roc Nation Sports, did not back down. They are seeking a quick agreement after also offering the player to Paris Saint-Germain. According to reports, the parties agreed on the terms of a contract running through 2031. On Sunday evening, PSG then walked away from the negotiations in frustration. “The requested transfer fee and salary demands were completely disproportionate,” the club said in a statement. Now Real Madrid is the (only) destination.

Most recently, it became apparent that the two-time DFB Cup champion would be willing to budge from its stance and let Diomande go if an offer of at least 120 million euros in transfer fees were made. The profit margin is simply too tempting for a teenager who arrived in Leipzig a year ago from Spanish first-division relegated side CD Leganés for 20 million euros.

Diomande would thus become the Saxons’ record transfer. Until now, Josko Gvardiol’s 2023 move to Manchester City (90 million transfer fee) had been considered the most expensive departure in the club’s history. Last year, Benjamin Sesko transferred to Manchester United for around 76 million euros.