Yan Diomande, a 19-year-old forward for RB Leipzig (under contract until 2030) and the Ivory Coast national team, has recently been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. The German club’s sporting director, Marcel Schäfer, addressed the situation in comments to Bild.
“The time will come when we allow him to take the next step, but not this year.”
“Our clear intention is for Yan Diomande to play for RB Leipzig next season. We will not deviate from that stance. We know exactly what he means to us. Of course, if Yan continues his current progress, the time will come when we allow him to take the next step, but not this year.”
This brings a halt to a deal that several media outlets had described as being at an advanced stage. Mind you, we have seen such stances shift before. However, Leipzig could also stand firm, making negotiations extremely difficult—if not impossible. The door might remain closed, meaning PSG and Diomande may have to wait. We must wait for certainty; Paris could still make an offer that accelerates matters. That may well be the intended aim of such a statement.
