Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae is just as enamoured with Diomande’s application and character .
“He’s a kid who has a real team spirit, laughs with everyone, and he listens, listens to the technical staff whenever he’s given advice, and tries to do his best, as he’s told,” the former Nantes midfielder said after last weekend’s 1-0 win over Ecuador. “It’s easy to work with someone like Yan. He’s so talented and has what is needed.”
Indeed, it was impossible not to be impressed with the industry, speed and skill Diomande displayed in Philadelphia, with even Fae dumbstruck by just how impressively the 19-year-old performed on his World Cup debut.
“What more can I say? I can’t put it into words,” The Elephants coach admitted. “He’s very talented and he’s still very young, so he’ll improve.” Which is why Liverpool probably feel as if they have no time to lose. They have other transfer targets, including PSG’s odd man out, Bradley Barcola, but it’s clear that Diomande is top of their wishlist – and it’s probably a case of now or never.
Based on his rapid rate of progress over the past two seasons, first in Spain’s second division, then in the Bundesliga, Fae is probably right: Diomande is only going to get better – and that, in turn, means his value is only going to increase. In fact, another stellar showing against Germany this weekend would genuinely add another few million to his price tag.
Diomande, then, isn’t just a problem for opponents, he’s become a problem for Liverpool too – because if they want to sign Salah’s ideal successor, the only possible solution is to pay the extortionate nine-figure fee that Leipzig are demanding.
