Chelsea’s £80m target ‘happy’ and ‘motivated’ by transfer speculation | Football

Yan Diomande has welcomed speculation linking him with the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, insisting such rumours make him ‘happy’ and provide extra ‘motivation’ to succeed.

Diomande has enjoyed a remarkable debut season with RB Leipzig having arrived in Germany from Leganes last summer, racking up 12 goals and seven assists in his opening 32 Bundesliga appearances.

The 19-year-old winger hit the ground running and has rapidly established himself as one of the most exciting attacking talents in European football, with his barnstorming form attracting the attentions of a host of Europe’s elite sides.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have both been credited with a strong interest in Diomande in recent months. The Premier League has also been mooted as a possible destination for the teenage sensation, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all heavily linked.

Leipzig’s hierarchy were adamant that Diomande was not for sale in the January transfer window, with club chiefs determined not to lose any key players during their fight for Champions League qualification.

However, there is a growing acceptance that Leipzig may be powerless in preventing Diomande’s head from being turned at the end of the campaign as the Ivory Coast international continues to go from strength to strength.

United and Chelsea are believed to have been monitoring Diomande’s progress for some time, while Liverpool are also known to have sent scouts to watch the forward in action.

In response, Leipzig have reportedly slapped an eye-watering £80million asking price on the youngster. Such a sale would represent a significant profit for Leipzig, who signed the teen from Leganes for a fee of just €20m (£17.5m).

‘Imagine people say you go to Chelsea or Real Madrid (as examples of big clubs) to do this job…you’re going to be happy and motivated to do more,’ Diomande told The Athletic when asked about the incessant speculation over his future.

‘I don’t think about it too much because my focus is on the pitch, my job is playing football, that takes care of everything.

‘But it gives me a lot of motivation to see people talking about me.’

Diomande has even surprised himself with the speed at which he has gone from playing high-school association football in the United States to being considered one of the next big things in the world game.

‘I didn’t imagine to do everything so quickly like this but I have ambition and vision to be one of the best players,’ he added.

‘Everything happened fast and now I’m going step by step.

‘I have a new dream every day. I’m not going to say anything crazy, but in five years I’d like to be one of the best.’

Prior to signing for Leganes, Diomande came close to moving to England and was even invited to train with Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

‘I was young so I didn’t really know what was going on,’ the Ivorian explained.

‘But it was fun going to Chelsea and Crystal Palace, and seeing players like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.’

For now, Diomande remains focussed on seeing out a successful season with Leipzig and repaying the faith the club showed in him when he arrived from Leganes last summer.

‘I will never forget this. It’s not just about playing football. Most people can only see what happens on the pitch, but the club has helped me so much with my family and my mum.

‘Young kids like me, I have a lot of things that happen, but nobody knows other than the club. They did a lot for me so I’m grateful and all I can do is help them on the pitch.

‘It’s a big motivation to pay back what they put in me – €20m is a big risk, but it’s not over, we have to keep working hard.’

‘It is our aim to keep players with us for longer than just one year, because otherwise you don’t achieve any continuity,’ Leipzig chief Marcel Schafer told Kicker when quizzed on the growing interest in Diomande in January.

‘It is our aim to keep players with us for longer than just one year, because otherwise you don’t achieve any continuity.’

Pressed on whether Leipzig were in the ‘driving seat’ when it came to Diomande’s future, Schafer, somewhat cryptically, replied: ‘There isn’t even anyone sitting in the passenger seat.

‘Everyone is sitting in the back seat.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink identifies potential ‘problem’ if Chelsea hire Xabi Alonso

MORE: ‘Infuriating’ – Chelsea urged to sell £40m star in summer transfer window

MORE: Man Utd and Chelsea add record-breaking Spain international to summer transfer shortlists