{"id":10104,"date":"2026-05-13T20:08:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=10104"},"modified":"2026-05-13T20:08:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:08:10","slug":"chelseas-80m-target-happy-and-motivated-by-transfer-speculation-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=10104","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea’s \u00a380m target ‘happy’ and ‘motivated’ by transfer speculation | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
Chelsea have been credited with a strong interest in RB Leipzig wonderkid Yan Diomande (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yan Diomande has welcomed speculation linking him with the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, insisting such rumours make him \u2018happy\u2019 and provide extra \u2018motivation\u2019 to succeed.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old winger hit the ground running and has rapidly established himself as one of the most exciting attacking talents in\u00a0European football, with his barnstorming form attracting the attentions of a host of Europe\u2019s elite sides.<\/p>\n

Bayern Munich\u00a0and\u00a0Real Madrid have both been credited with a strong interest in Diomande in recent months. The\u00a0Premier League\u00a0has also been mooted as a possible destination for the teenage sensation, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all heavily linked.<\/p>\n

Leipzig\u2019s 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\u00a0Champions League\u00a0qualification.<\/p>\n

However, there is a growing acceptance that Leipzig may be powerless in preventing Diomande\u2019s head from being turned at the end of the campaign as the Ivory Coast international continues to go from strength to strength.<\/p>\n

United and Chelsea are believed to have been monitoring Diomande\u2019s progress for some time, while Liverpool are also known to have sent scouts to watch the forward in action.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"RB\t<\/div>
Diomande has been a revelation in the Bundesliga (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Bayer\t<\/div>
Leipzig are demanding a fee of \u00a380m for the Ivory Coast international (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In response, Leipzig have reportedly slapped an eye-watering \u00a380million 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 \u20ac20m (\u00a317.5m).<\/p>\n

\u2018Imagine people say you go to Chelsea or Real Madrid [as examples of big clubs] to do this job\u2026you\u2019re going to be happy and motivated to do more,\u2019 Diomande told The Athletic when asked about the incessant speculation over his future.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think about it too much because my focus is on the pitch, my job is playing football, that takes care of everything.<\/p>\n

\u2018But it gives me a lot of motivation to see people talking about me.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Eintracht\t<\/div>
Diomande has notched 12 goals and seven assists in the German top flight (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2018I didn\u2019t imagine to do everything so quickly like this but I have ambition and vision to be one of the best players,\u2019 he added. <\/p>\n

\u2018Everything happened fast and now I\u2019m going step by step.<\/p>\n

\u2018I have a new dream every day. I\u2019m not going to say anything crazy, but in five years I\u2019d like to be one of the best.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"FBL-GER-BUNDESLIGA-LEIPZIG-MOENCHENGLADBACH\"\t<\/div>
The teenager\u2019s contract with Leipzig runs through to 2030 (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prior to signing for Leganes, Diomande came close to moving to England and was even invited to train with Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

\u2018I was young so I didn\u2019t really know what was going on,\u2019 the Ivorian explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018But it was fun going to Chelsea and Crystal Palace, and seeing players like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"RB\t<\/div>
Diomande is \u2018motivated\u2019 by speculation over his future (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2018I will never forget this. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u2018Young 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\u2019m grateful and all I can do is help them on the pitch.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a big motivation to pay back what they put in me \u2013 \u20ac20m is a big risk, but it\u2019s not over, we have to keep working hard.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018It is our aim to keep players with us for longer than just one year, because otherwise you don\u2019t achieve any continuity,\u2019 Leipzig\u00a0chief Marcel Schafer told\u00a0Kicker\u00a0when quizzed on the growing interest in Diomande in January.<\/p>\n

\u2018It is our aim to keep players with us for longer than just one year, because otherwise you don\u2019t achieve any continuity.\u2019<\/p>\n

Pressed on whether Leipzig were in the \u2018driving seat\u2019 when it came to Diomande\u2019s future, Schafer, somewhat cryptically, replied: \u2018There isn\u2019t even anyone sitting in the passenger seat.<\/p>\n

\u2018Everyone is sitting in the back seat.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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