RB Leipzig are navigating a turbulent summer that has brought record-breaking income but real uncertainty in attack. The club completed the sale of Yan Diomande to Real Madrid for a base fee of €125 million, rising to €140 million with bonuses, making it the most expensive departure in Leipzig's history and one of the costliest transfers in Bundesliga history. The 19-year-old winger had scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in 36 appearances during his only season in Saxony, arriving from CD Leganes for just €20 million a year earlier. Leipzig held firm against lower offers from Liverpool, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain before Real Madrid met their demands.

The windfall, though, has not translated into clean business in the transfer market. Leipzig's attempt to sign Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani for €25 million collapsed at the final stage when the club raised medical concerns following his visit to their Austrian training camp. Hoffenheim insisted Asllani was fully fit and confirmed he would remain at the club. Leipzig then made a late move for Wolfsburg forward Dzenan Pejcinovic, but VfB Stuttgart moved faster and secured the 21-year-old for the same fee.

Those back-to-back setbacks leave new head coach Martin Demichelis, who replaced the sacked Ole Werner this summer, without a genuine centre-forward addition ahead of the Bundesliga season. Reports also link Antonio Nusa with a €60 million move to AS Roma, which would compound the squad depth problem on the wings. Leipzig face Bayern Munich in a friendly on August 15 before the competitive season begins, and the pressure to reinforce up front before the transfer window closes in early September is mounting.