Yan Diomande is one of the most eye-catching players in the Bundesliga this season. The young winger from RB Leipzig has played his way into the limelight in a very short space of time with his pace, directness and finishing ability – and has inevitably attracted the interest of FC Bayern. To coincide with the top match in Leipzig, sporting director Max Eberl has now publicly commented on the rumours surrounding a possible move to Munich
It was already clear in the run-up to the game that Diomande is no ordinary hopeful, but a strategic transfer from RB Leipzig with clear prospects. This is precisely what Eberl emphasised in an interview with Sky. „This was a typical Red Bull transfer. A player who showed what he can do in the second division in Spain with Leganés. Then to have the courage to put such a transfer fee on the table when you hear it – Marcel and his team have really done a very good job again,“ explained the Bayern boss, openly paying tribute to Leipzig’s transfer policy
RB Leipzig signed Diomande from CD Leganés for a reported €20 million before the season – an investment that has paid off in sporting terms so far. The Ivory Coast international has scored six goals and provided three assists in the Bundesliga and has also been productive in the DFB Cup – performances that have naturally put him on FC Bayern’s radar
Eberl reveals: Diomande was also on Bayern’s radar
Eberl confirmed this impression and made it clear that Diomande was definitely an issue at Säbener Straße. At the same time, however, he also explained why the record champions ultimately decided on a different path last summer. „We also know the market relatively well, but we decided to get the established player in Lucho Díaz, where we say we get a higher reliability, a higher probability that he will work at FC Bayern,“ said Eberl. The focus was therefore deliberately on immediate quality rather than development potential
The 52-year-old emphasised that FC Bayern is by no means losing sight of young players. „We are of course also looking at young players,“ said Eberl, referring to examples from his own squad such as Tom Bischof or Lennart Karl, who has already made the breakthrough with the professionals. Nevertheless, he made it clear that different standards apply at the record champions. Success is not an option, but a commitment – and that is precisely what transfer decisions must be based on
RB boss Mintzlaff puts his foot down
It is obvious that Diomande’s prospects are not off the table despite these statements. However, the reaction from Leipzig was all the clearer. Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff demonstratively stood in front of his shooting star and put the brakes on possible speculation at an early stage. „As head of the supervisory board, I would say that he will definitely be with us next season – even if there is an offer of 80 or 90 million,“ Mintzlaff stated unequivocally. When asked, he added: „No one has come yet.“
Mintzlaff also made it clear that RB Leipzig do not see Diomande as a short-term transitory project. „You can’t give up a young player like the one we’ve just brought in after a year. He is extremely young and is playing his first Bundesliga season,“ emphasised the 50-year-old. Leipzig have worked out that players can be kept for longer – even if they have repeatedly lost top talents to bigger clubs in the past
For FC Bayern, this means that Diomande remains out of reach for the time being, but Eberl’s statements show that they are keeping a close eye on the market and that Diomande is no stranger to the Isar.