RB Leipzig Wiretap

RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has publicly expressed admiration for Paris Saint-Germain while Liverpool remain among clubs tracking the 19-year-old, sources told ESPN. Leipzig have set an opening asking price of $150 million for the Bundesliga standout.

Diomande enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign in Germany, recording 12 goals and nine assists to claim the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award.

Speaking to French media, Diomande made clear his affection for the Champions League holders.

"Paris Saint-Germain is a team I've loved since I was little," said Diomande. "I think my father was a PSG supporter. It's a team I admire as a football fan.

"But I'm not thinking about the future. I'm staying focused on the World Cup and then we'll see what happens. They'll sort things out between clubs and we'll see what happens next.

"I'm under contract with Leipzig and I love playing here."

In a separate interview with Telefoot on TF1, Diomande was more direct about his feelings toward a potential move to France.

"Yeah, it would be a pleasure for me to come and play here with one of the biggest clubs," said Diomande. "It's always a pleasure to come here because, already the language, with French, adapting won't be difficult, so why not? But then again, I'm an RB Leipzig player, so there you go."

The Ivory Coast international is contracted at Leipzig through 2030 and will feature as a key player for his nation at the upcoming World Cup. PSG, who claimed back-to-back Champions League titles, have also been linked with the versatile winger.

RB Leipzig has placed an opening valuation of $150 million on teenage winger Yan Diomande, with the German club under no financial pressure to negotiate below that threshold despite reported interest from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, sources told ESPN.

Leipzig would require a bid in that region simply to open transfer discussions. The club signed Diomande last summer from Leganes for €20 million ($23m) and holds him under contract through 2030.

The 19-year-old earned Bundesliga Rookie of the Season honors this term after recording 12 goals and nine assists in the German top flight, helping Leipzig secure Champions League qualification. He joins a distinguished list of past winners that includes Jude Bellingham, Florian Wirtz, Harry Kane, and Michael Olise.

Speaking to a small group of reporters on May 13, Diomande was measured about his future.

"My contract here is until 2030, so I have four more years," said Diomande. "I will never forget this opportunity. It's not only about playing football, but the club helped me a lot off the pitch. Nobody knew me before and €20m is a lot. It was a big risk for them and I thank them for that."

Sources confirm Diomande is committed to Leipzig but acknowledges that an exceptional offer could alter his position. The winger says transfer speculation serves as fuel rather than distraction.

"This kind of things give me a lot of motivation to see a lot of clubs speaking about you," said Diomande. "But I'm focused."

Diomande's immediate priority is representing Ivory Coast at the upcoming World Cup, where his market value is expected to climb further.

Liverpool head a group of top European clubs pursuing RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, 19, this summer after the Ivorian forward won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award and helped Leipzig qualify for the Champions League.

Just over a year ago Diomande was playing semi-professional football in the United Premier Soccer League in Florida. After unsuccessful trials in England and Scotland and no MLS interest, he landed at Leganes in Spain's second division in late 2024 before brief La Liga appearances triggered a Red Bull scouting recommendation.

Leipzig paid Diomande's $23.2 million release clause in summer 2025 without negotiation, according to sporting director Marcel Schaefer.

Diomande finished the season with 12 goals and eight assists, breaking through in October with a dominant display against Augsburg that included one goal and two assists in a 6-0 victory. He later scored a first-half hat-trick in another 6-0 result against Eintracht Frankfurt, earning a perfect match rating from German tabloid Bild.

Leipzig staff had privately projected Diomande would reach a $116 million valuation within two years. Those estimates now appear modest.

Diomande ranked fifth in Bundesliga sprint speed this season and possesses rare acceleration from a standing start. He is effective with both feet, capable of beating defenders with technique or power and scoring with placement or force.

Leipzig rebuffed several January approaches by demanding $116 million. That figure may no longer be sufficient as clubs prepare summer bids, with Liverpool seeking a replacement for departing winger Mohamed Salah.

B Leipzig forward Yan Diomande says the growing attention surrounding his future is fueling rather than distracting him, even as clubs including Liverpool monitor the 19-year-old winger ahead of the summer transfer window. Leipzig are widely reported to value the teenager at around $115 million (£85 million).

"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 told reporters including The Athletic.

Diomande has registered 12 goals and seven assists this season, helping Leipzig secure Champions League qualification for next season. Liverpool are among the clubs tracking him as they seek a replacement for departing winger Mohamed Salah.

The Ivory Coast international still has four years remaining on his Leipzig contract following a $23 million (€20 million) move last summer. He has repaid that investment quickly, also featuring at the Africa Cup of Nations this year and earning a World Cup call-up next month.

His path to European football was far from straightforward. After relocating from the Ivory Coast to the United States at 15, Diomande starred for Florida's DME Academy before trials at Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Rangers. He chose Leganes over MLS options before Leipzig came calling.

"I will never forget this," Diomande said of Leipzig's support. "Most people can only see what happens on the pitch, but the club has helped me so much with my family and my mum. It's a big motivation to pay back what they put in me."

He remained measured about what comes next.

"The World Cup is next and after that you never know what can happen," he said. "I have ambition and vision to be one of the best players. Everything happened fast and now I'm going step by step."

Red Bull CEO of corporate projects and investments Oliver Mintzlaff has firmly rejected reports that Jurgen Klopp's future at the organization is in doubt, calling the claims baseless. An Austrian newspaper report Thursday suggested Klopp's position was no longer secure due to a perceived lack of sporting progress across the Red Bull network.

Klopp has served as Red Bull's global head of soccer since January 2025, operating under a contract through 2029. The Salzburger Nachrichten report claimed Red Bull would not block Klopp from returning to coaching at club or international level.

Mintzlaff rejected those claims directly in a statement to The Athletic.

"That's complete nonsense and totally unfounded," he said. "On the contrary: We are extremely satisfied with Jurgen Klopp's work. He invests a great deal, is in constant communication with our coaches and sporting directors, and is sustainably developing our Red Bull football philosophy."

Klopp has been repeatedly linked with a return to management, most recently connected to Real Madrid following Xabi Alonso's dismissal in January. He has also been regularly mentioned as a candidate for the German national team job, currently held by Julian Nagelsmann.

The former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager addressed speculation following Alonso's sacking in January.

"I'm in a place as a person where I'm completely at peace with where I am," Klopp told The Athletic. "I don't want to be somewhere else."

Klopp's Red Bull responsibilities span five clubs across four continents, including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls. His duties include developing and scouting coaches throughout the network.

He joined Red Bull after nearly nine years at Liverpool, where he claimed the 2019 Champions League and the 2019-20 Premier League title.

The San Jose Earthquakes have signed RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner as a designated player through 2028, the MLS club confirmed Thursday. The move addresses significant roster needs after the club lost Josef Martinez and Cristian Espinoza to free agency.

Werner has played just 13 minutes across three appearances this season with Leipzig. Manager Bruce Arena believes the former Germany international will provide a substantial boost to San Jose's attack. A source confirmed forward Cristian Arango is likely headed to Colombian side Atletico Nacional.

"It's always a big decision to go to America, but everything is there to be successful," Werner said in a statement. "The stadium and the facilities are beautiful. Also, it really impressed me that an experienced manager like Bruce [Arena], who has had so much success in the league, flew over here to Germany to talk to me about the plan."

Arena traveled to Germany in December to meet Werner during a two-month recruitment process. The manager expressed confidence in the acquisition despite Werner's limited playing time this season.

"We feel he's going to be a great addition to the team as well as the league," Arena said in an exclusive interview with ESPN. "I think he's a player that still has a lot of good years ahead of him."

San Jose won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003 but has qualified for the playoffs just three times in the past 13 seasons. The Quakes finished level on points with ninth-place Real Salt Lake last season but missed the postseason on the games won tiebreaker.

Werner earned 57 caps for Germany and posted his best form during a four-season spell with Leipzig from 2016 to 2020, scoring 95 goals in 159 league and cup appearances. He spent two seasons with Chelsea, scoring 23 goals in 89 appearances, and played on loan at Tottenham Hotspur the previous two seasons.

Arena plans to use preseason to determine Werner's optimal position, whether as a second striker or wide attacker.

Jurgen Klopp has provided insight into his role as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer one year after his appointment, describing it as an advisory position with power that differs significantly from traditional coaching. The former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager oversees the sport's largest multi-club organization.

"When I started this job, nobody really had an idea of how it would look," Klopp said at RB Leipzig's office building. "I'm Jurgen Klopp, but I had no clue what that meant, to be honest."

Klopp emphasized he is not a backseat coach making team selections over managers' heads. "Recently, I heard that I'm the 'Totengraeber' — the gravedigger — for coaches, but that's the last title I ever want to have," he said. "It's an advisory role, but with power."

The Red Bull network comprises RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil and RB Omiya Ardija in Japan. The drinks manufacturer also owns a minority stake in Paris FC, has an unknown shareholding in Premier League club Leeds United, and is a major sponsor of RB Salzburg and FC Liefering in Austria.

Klopp's first task was understanding the network by visiting its outposts worldwide. "I found a global team that was perfectly set up by Mario Gomez," he said. "But to lead this multi-club organization, I needed to know who I was working with."

Red Bull's traditional footballing style has centered around a 4-2-2-2 formation with floating playmakers behind two mobile forwards. Since Klopp's arrival, that has been adjusted to something closer to the 4-3-3 often used by his Liverpool teams, with attacking thrust provided by dynamic wide players. In Leipzig, that now means Johan Bakayoko, Antonio Nusa and the exceptional Yan Diomande. That adjustment seems typical of the tone of Klopp's influence throughout the organization.

The 58-year-old serves as a voice in recruitment discussions and helps pitch prospective players. Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schaefer noted Klopp's unique ability: "If Jurgen is in the room, speaking about our project and our vision, he has something unique. He has a god-given talent to capture people in just a few minutes."

Klopp aims to support coaches across the network differently than he experienced. "My idea with our coaches is to be the guy I never had," he said. "In the moments when the coaches feel alone, I want to be there." He dismissed recent speculation linking him to the Real Madrid job, saying it "had nothing to do with me."

The San Jose Earthquakes are close to signing German forward Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, sources briefed on the potential transfer told The Athletic. The 29-year-old would join as a designated player for the Quakes.

Werner has earned 57 caps with the German national team between 2017 and 2023, scoring 24 goals. He nearly joined Leipzig's MLS sister club, the New York Red Bulls, last summer but the deal never materialized.

The forward has played just 13 minutes in the Bundesliga this season after Leipzig told him he was not in the club's plans. Werner spent the previous 18 months on loan at Tottenham, recording three goals and seven assists across all competitions.

Werner broke through with Stuttgart before starring at Leipzig, where he compiled 113 goals and 47 assists in 216 appearances. He also played in the Premier League with Chelsea before returning to Leipzig for a second stint in 2022.

His trophy collection includes the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, 2024-25 UEFA Europa League with Tottenham and the 2022-23 DFB-Pokal with Leipzig. Werner earned Bundesliga Team of the Season honors in 2019-20.

Werner would lead Bruce Arena's revamped attack alongside Chicho Arango following Josef Martinez's departure to Tijuana. The Earthquakes would still have another designated player spot available as they aim to return to postseason contention.

RB Leipzig have established themselves as Germany's second-best team after returning to their Gegenpressing roots under new coach Ole Werner, culminating in a 6-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday.

The victory represents the latest evidence of Leipzig's resurgence after a difficult start to the season. Werner's side suffered a 6-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on the opening night of the campaign.

Nineteen-year-old Yan Diomande scored a second-half hat trick against Frankfurt, becoming the second-youngest player to score three goals in a Bundesliga match. The Ivory Coast international has made remarkable strides in recent weeks.

Denmark striker Conrad Harder, 20, opened the scoring after just five minutes for his first Leipzig goal. The club signed Harder for approximately 24 million euros from Sporting CP.

Leipzig have deployed a front three featuring two 20-year-olds and a 19-year-old in recent matches. The youth-driven approach mirrors the club's early Bundesliga years when hungry youngsters put themselves on the map.

Leipzig made a deliberate decision to return to intensive, emotional Gegenpressing football this summer. The club had morphed into a possession-dominated side in recent seasons under previous management.

Sporting director Marcel Schafer understood the team needed fresh impulse and fewer egos. Stars like Xavi Simons and Lois Openda departed before the season began.

Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi has recorded seven clean sheets and conceded only seven goals in 12 Bundesliga matches since the opening-day thrashing. Captain David Raum, 27, has become a constant menace on the left flank.

Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner has scored six league goals this season after stepping out of previous stars' shadows. Leipzig's absence from European competition has allowed the team to focus solely on domestic competitions.

The club will appoint Tatjana Haenni as CEO in January, making her the first woman to hold such a position in German football.

Jurgen Klopp emphatically stated he does not plan to return to coaching, telling The Athletic he misses "nothing" about his former life managing Liverpool. The former Reds boss, now global head of soccer at Red Bull, sharply criticized FIFA's expanding tournament calendar in his first extensive English-language interview since starting his new role.

Klopp left Liverpool in summer 2024 after nine years that included Premier League and Champions League titles. He began work at Red Bull in January, overseeing playing philosophy and transfer strategy across the company's global soccer portfolio.

The 58-year-old dismissed any possibility of returning to the touchline when asked if he would ever coach again. He acknowledged he might reconsider at age 65, but expressed certainty about his current stance.

"I didn't know when games started. I was just out. I played sports. We enjoyed life, spent time with the grandkids, completely normal stuff, knowing I will work again," Klopp said. "But knowing as well, that I don't want to work as a coach anymore."

"I don't miss anything," he added when asked about his coaching career.

Klopp intensified his criticism of FIFA's tournament expansion plans, calling the 32-team Club World Cup problematic for player welfare. He expressed strong opposition to a proposed 64-team World Cup in 2030. 
 
"My expertise is I know how much you can expect from football players," Klopp said. "There's no solution besides stopping organising new tournaments in the summer break. There's no break anymore for the best players in the world."

Klopp was actively involved in RB Leipzig's transfer window, which saw 26 players move in and out. He reviews player profiles and makes recruitment calls for Red Bull's teams, which include clubs in Germany, Austria, France, the United States, Brazil and Japan.

The German manager said he has attended the cinema four times in the past eight weeks after going just four times in 25 years as a coach.