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RB Leipzig supervisory board chairman Oliver Mintzlaff has sent a firm message to clubs pursuing winger Yan Diomande, stating he would not sanction the sale of the 19-year-old this summer under any circumstances — even if the likes of Liverpool or Manchester United were to surpass the widely cited asking price of $117 million (€100 million).
Having joined permanently from Leganés last summer, Diomande has made a stunning impact in the Bundesliga, registering 12 goals and eight assists to establish himself as one of the most coveted attackers in Europe ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
Clubs had already anticipated having to break Leipzig's transfer record to land Diomande, but Mintzlaff has now made clear he intends to do everything in his power to persuade the club to hold onto the player regardless of any offer received.
"I'm on the supervisory board and am not the sporting director, but I can say this: If I were the sporting director, I wouldn't sell this young player who hasn't even been with us for a full season yet, no matter what price is offered," he told Sky Sports. "I believe he's a player who will continue to develop anyway and will certainly become even more expensive.
"Of course, there are other clubs where players also want to take the next step—FC Bayern is one of them, but also clubs from England and Spain. But we must have the expectation that a player, even if he delivers outstanding performances here, doesn't leave again after just one year.
"We want to play in the Champions League. And that's naturally an argument for such a young player, to then deliver what he's shown in a second season and possibly develop further—also at an international level."
Alternative Targets for Man Utd, Liverpool
As Mintzlaff acknowledges, the final decision on transfers at Leipzig does not rest with him, yet he is evidently determined to do what he can to prevent Diomande from leaving.
Drawn-out negotiations that could surpass the €100 million mark — and may still fail to persuade Leipzig to part ways with the player — are far from ideal for either United or Liverpool, both of whom may prefer to complete business early in the window to strengthen their squads without delay. Should that be the case, alternative options will need to be explored.
One of the more recent names to emerge in transfer speculation this summer is AC Milan forward Rafael Leão, with reports indicating the seasoned Portugal international could be available for roughly half the €100 million Leipzig are demanding for Diomande.
Elsewhere on the continent, La Liga continues to be a rich source of talent attracting Europe's biggest clubs. Mallorca's Jan Virgili and Osasuna's Víctor Muñoz have both been linked with El Clásico rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona, while former Blaugrana academy product Abde Ezzalzouli is drawing admiring looks during his time at Real Betis.
High-profile names such as Barcelona's Ferran Torres and Athletic Club's Nico Williams are also facing uncertain futures heading into the summer.
For those prioritizing Premier League-tested talent, Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon appears to be a leading option, though interest from Bayern Munich could drive up his valuation. Everton's Iliman Ndiaye is another player attracting attention from major clubs.
United already have a proven Premier League winger within their ranks. Marcus Rashford is widely expected to return to Old Trafford this summer once his loan spell at Barcelona concludes, though whether he can be successfully reintegrated into the squad after an 18-month absence remains an open question.