The pursuit of Diomande is driven by the need to find a long-term successor for Salah. The Egyptian king announced in March that he would be leaving the club at the end of the current campaign, leaving a massive void in Liverpool’s attack after leading their scoring charts in eight of his nine seasons.
New manager Andoni Iraola, who replaced the sacked Arne Slot, has already begun reshaping the squad. The Spaniard has given the green light to a more aggressive, front-footed style of play, and Diomande’s profile – having recorded 12 goals and nine assists in 33 games last season – is viewed as the perfect fit for this tactical shift. The youngster shone in Ivory Coast’s World Cup victory over Ecuador earlier this week and is currently preparing for their second game of the tournament against Wirtz’s Germany on Saturday, in Toronto.
