if finalised, this would make diomande the second most expensive transfer in bundesliga history, trailing only ousmane dembélé’s €148 million move from dortmund to barcelona. just weeks ago, the rumoured fee stood at €120 million, but rapid developments have pushed the price higher.

transfer expert ben jacobs has hinted at a verbal agreement between the clubs, though final confirmation is still pending. the deal is expected to be formalised once real madrid’s board meets to approve the transaction.

yan diomande’s arrival delayed by tactical manoeuvering

diomande had already joined rb leipzig’s pre-season camp in saalfelden, austria, after recovering from an undisclosed illness. his arrival at the training facility was deliberately timed to prevent real madrid from immediately including him in their medical examinations—a key step in finalising a transfer.

the ivorian’s sudden rise has been meteoric. after just ten official matches for leganés last season, rb leipzig signed him for €20 million—a fee that now looks like a bargain given his subsequent performances. in 36 appearances for leipzig, he scored 13 goals and provided ten assists, establishing himself as one of europe’s most exciting young talents.

fabrizio romano, a prominent transfer journalist, had prematurely declared the deal done over a week ago, sparking criticism from rb leipzig’s sporting director, marcel schäfer. “when we have something to announce, we will do so,” schäfer stated on tuesday. “a few transfer experts called it ‘done’ or ‘here we go’ days ago, but that’s not the case. many factors are still at play. it’s not time yet.”

a bidding war narrows to a final showdown

diomande’s talent has drawn interest from europe’s elite clubs for months. liverpool, Paris saint-germain, and even bayern munich were reportedly in the hunt before real madrid emerged as the frontrunner. the spanish club’s dominance in the race suggests they have little concern over potential complications.

behind the scenes, a dispute over diomande’s representation has intensified. maxidel management, which facilitated his move from leganés to leipzig last summer, claims it still holds transfer rights despite his switch to roc nation. if the deal with real madrid proceeds, fifa may intervene to resolve the conflict over unpaid commissions.

for rb leipzig, the transfer would mark a significant financial windfall, capping a remarkable rise for a player who arrived as an unheralded talent just a year ago.

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