In one of the biggest shocks of the summer transfer window, Real Madrid have dropped a bombshell. They've tabled an official 100-million-euro bid for Yan Diomande, the Leipzig winger who is only 19. The Ivorian has spent a single season in the Bundesliga, yet half of Europe's clubs are chasing him and he's become one of the hottest names on the market.
Diomande looked set for Paris Saint-Germain until the bid from the Spanish giants tipped the scales, particularly with the Michael Olise deal at Bayern Munich proving so tricky. So who is the player forcing the top clubs to open their coffers like this?
A multi-talented winger wanted everywhere
Talks between Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain were well advanced during the last World Cup. The Parisians had got ahead of Liverpool, who saw him as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, and several Premier League clubs enquired about him, most notably Arsenal and Liverpool.
Real Madrid turned to Diomande as a strong alternative once the Olise deal stalled. He's no ordinary fallback, though. This is a player who makes a real difference on the pitch and boasts attributes rarely seen in modern football, according to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo".
A type of player that no longer exists
Yan Diomande dribbles beautifully and cuts inside from both flanks with equal effectiveness, making him a modern take on the classic winger. He gets the better of defenders with electric pace, physical strength and serious technical quality.
Space is where he thrives, but he also creates chances in tight, congested situations. That versatility makes him an ideal target for clubs after a winger who blends individual skill with collective end product.
A remarkable rise
Diomande joined Leipzig last summer for just 20 million euros, the value of the release clause, arriving from Spain's Leganes. Before that he'd spent a short spell at an American academy and played only around 10 matches with Leganes, yet he nearly saved the club from relegation with his brilliance.
His first Bundesliga season was exceptional. He scored 12 goals and provided 8 assists in 33 matches. Numbers like those from a 19-year-old turned the heads of every expert and every big club.
Leipzig rejected the initial 100-million-euro bid, but the German club know full well the Ivorian is a candidate to leave this summer. The deal is expected to reach around 130 million euros, even though his contract runs until 2030.