Liverpool’s spending in the summer transfer window should have been enough to make them challenge for the Premier League title again.
They easily won the transfer market. Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirths? It was a tremendous window, but the reality was that Arne Slot’s fees were well below face value.
They have no chance of retaining the title, but fortunately they are on track in the FA Cup. On Saturday night they crushed Brighton, beating the Seagulls 3-0.
Curtis Jones made a rare start and took his chances, scoring in the first half, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Mo Salah sealing the victory in regulation in the second half. There have been few comfortable wins for the Reds this season, so this was a welcome change of pace and certainly a welcome distraction from the league.
So how can Liverpool get back to their original form? Like this season, it’s not all about spending extravagantly, it’s about spending wisely. One area they need to improve is on the left side.
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Salah’s Liverpool career will likely continue on the right-wing this summer, but there is certainly more uncertainty on the left-wing judging by Codi Gakpo’s performances in recent weeks.
As a result, replacements have recently been sought, including Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Wolves’ teenage superstar Matheus Mane.
But the most exciting relationship concerns RB Leipzig superstar Yann Diomande. The Reds were touted to sign the Ivorian winger in January, but nothing materialized.
Now, just 13 days after the window slammed shut, Diomand’s name has resurfaced. In fact, according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are scouting the Ivorian player along with Manchester United and Arsenal.
It is also said that all three clubs have begun talks with Diomande’s camp to register their interest in the young forward.
That said, he will cost a fortune, with Leipzig putting an £87m price tag on his shoulders. That would be a record sale price for a German club, exceeding the fee Manchester City paid for Josko Gvardiol.
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Comparison of Diomand and Gakpo
Gakpo is a Dutch player who has scored just five goals in 23 Premier League games this season, much to the frustration of Liverpool supporters.
He wasn’t particularly strong in 2026, finding the net only once in eight league games this year.
Slott’s side feel that the rest of the forward line is fairly complete, and Ekitike could be used on the left wing, but Isaac’s injury means that is not possible at the moment. The French player is expected to lead the attack.
Diomande could therefore be a very good summer solution for the Reds as they look for a long-term solution to their woes on the left side of their front line.
Liverpool were tracking Semenyo before signing him for Manchester City, but they could now find an answer for the Ghanaian in the form of the Leipzig sensation.
At just 19 years old, the teenager burst onto the scene in considerable style during the 2025/26 season, beating the goalkeeper nine times and providing six assists in 24 cup and league games in Germany.
The youngster’s form in the Bundesliga has been so impressive that he is already drawing comparisons to Erling Haaland. Journalist Bence Boksak pointed out that this situation was similar to what happened to Erling Haaland at Red Bull Salzburg. “As an interested club, we don’t want to just sit around and let one of our rivals sign him,” he wrote on social media. “Haaland was on a different level than Diomande, but the RB Leipzig winger is not far away,” he concluded.
His unpredictable and explosive nature makes him a perfect fit for the Premier League. He is an exceptional dribbler and can boot the end product.
Diomande vs Gakpo (2025/26 League) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90 minutes) | Diomand | steel |
the goal | 0.5 | 0.3 |
assist | 0.3 | 0.2 |
shot | 1.5 | 1.9 |
shot accuracy | 72% | 34% |
conversion rate | 32% | 14% |
An opportunity has arisen | 2 | 2 |
Take-up completed | 4.6 | 1.4 |
won a duel | 7.1 | 5.7 |
Compared to Gakpo, the quality is now clearly different between night and day. While there isn’t a huge difference between the two in terms of goals and assists per 90 minutes, there are some surprising differences.
Diomande’s efficiency is remarkable compared to the Dutchman. His 72% shot accuracy and 32% conversion rate are especially impressive. Not only does he beat opponents more regularly than Gakpo, but once he’s in position to take a shot, he usually ends up with a shot on target or a goal.
That’s ultimately one of the biggest complaints about Gakpo. He can knock people down, but he rarely hits the net.
It would be foolish to suggest that Diomande could become Liverpool’s new Salah, but he has already shown the same kind of ruthless personality that made the Egyptian a legend at Anfield. This would be a great summer catch for the Reds.
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