RB Leipzig enter the new season facing a significant rebuild in attack, and the urgency in the transfer market defines their situation right now. The departure of Yan Diomande to Real Madrid for a reported 125 million euros has left a gap the club is scrambling to fill, and their attempts to do so have hit repeated obstacles.

The clearest sign of that urgency came when their preferred target, Fisnik Asllani from Hoffenheim, failed his medical and the deal collapsed. Leipzig then turned to Cologne's Said El Mala, and reports from Sport Bild indicate the club is prepared to break their own internal transfer ceiling of 50 million euros, with a package worth up to 60 million euros on the table. Whether Cologne will sell remains uncertain, with sporting director Thomas Kessler publicly backing the 19-year-old to stay. New head coach Martín Demichelis is pushing hard for reinforcements as the season approaches.

Alongside the El Mala pursuit, Leipzig are also in early talks over a potential return for Christopher Nkunku, according to recent reports. The 28-year-old, who won the Bundesliga golden boot during his time at the club, has been frozen out at AC Milan by coach Ruben Amorim and could leave this summer. A loan or permanent deal is possible, though talks are at an early stage.

On the pitch, Leipzig lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich in the Telekom Cup on August 15, a friendly that served as their final pre-season test. The DFB-Pokal first round at Eintracht Trier on August 22 now marks their first competitive fixture under Demichelis.