RB Leipzig head into the new season carrying real uncertainty, and Saturday's 3-1 Telekom Cup defeat to Bayern Munich only sharpened that feeling. Brajan Gruda pulled Leipzig level early in the second half, briefly suggesting they could match the champions, but Bayern reasserted themselves quickly and ran out comfortable winners. The result matters less than the context around it, yet it still underlines the gap Leipzig must close.

The bigger story is what has happened in the transfer market. Yan Diomande's departure to Real Madrid for a reported 125 million euros, rising to 140 million with bonuses, was a record sale and a genuine coup for the club. As GOAL reports, Leipzig held firm against offers of around 100 million euros from Liverpool and others before Real met their price. The money is significant, but Diomande scored 13 goals and contributed 10 assists last season, and replacing that output has proved difficult.

Leipzig's primary target, Fisnik Asllani from Hoffenheim, failed his medical after a deal worth 25 million euros had been agreed. They then missed out on Dzenan Pejcinovic, who joined Stuttgart after Leipzig entered the race too late. As reported by GOAL, the club is now pursuing Diego Moreira from Racing Strasbourg, though a fee agreement remains elusive. Defender Lutsharel Geertruida, signed two years ago for 20 million euros, is also set to leave on loan after failing to establish himself under either Marco Rose or Ole Werner.

With the Bundesliga yet to begin and a DFB-Pokal first-round trip to Eintracht Trier on August 22 approaching, Leipzig need to resolve their attacking recruitment before the window closes in early September.