Echo: Liverpool regret not signing Yan Diomande after loss to Arsenal

According to the Echo, Yan Diomande was a Liverpool target this summer, and he has drawn plenty of attention with his outstanding performances since joining Real Madrid from RB Leipzig.

Liverpool's regret over not signing Yan Diomande has deepened after their loss to Arsenal, while Bellingham has been impressed by the winger's start at Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Barcola and Wirtz have not performed as expected at Anfield.

The Reds were one of the main contenders for Yan Diomande in the summer transfer window, but they were unwilling to meet RB Leipzig's asking price of €130 million (£111 million). Liverpool submitted an £85 million bid for the winger, but the German club rejected it.

Rather than make a higher offer, Liverpool decided not to pursue the deal further. Yan Diomande reportedly spoke with Andoni Iraola before making his decision, and ultimately chose to join Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants' initial £85 million offer was also rejected before an agreement worth up to €140 million (£120 million) was reached. Real Madrid paid €125 million (£107 million) up front, with the remaining €15 million (£12.8 million) in performance-related add-ons, and Yan Diomande signed a seven-year contract.

Interestingly, signing a winger was not Real Madrid's initial priority. The club had expected to activate its buy-back clause for Nico Paz to bring him back to the Bernabéu, after he performed well at Como following his departure from the Spanish capital in 2024.

However, Paz stayed in Italy, and Real Madrid strengthened their attack with Yan Diomande instead. The decision has paid off, with the youngster consistently delivering impressive performances and earning praise from fans and teammates.

Bellingham was particularly impressed by Yan Diomande's shooting ability and admitted he was stunned by the 19-year-old's quality. The England international said on the club's official website: "It's incredible."

"I didn't know he could shoot like that, but he's really excellent. He's a special player, and we're very happy to have him in our squad."

Yan Diomande scored again in Real Madrid's 3-0 victory over Racing Santander on Sunday, bringing his tally to 4 goals and 4 assists in 14 appearances across all competitions. His form will only add to Liverpool's regret, especially given the difficulties the club's summer signings have faced in front of goal.

Barcola, who joined Liverpool after the club missed out on Yan Diomande, has not consistently provided the expected attacking output. Wirtz has also struggled to find his rhythm, and the German midfielder has yet to become the creative hub Liverpool hoped for.

The two have combined for only 4 goals this season, leaving Andoni Iraola still searching for answers as his team lacks sharpness in the final third.

Their struggles were particularly evident in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal, where neither managed a shot on target.

Wirtz had 3 shots, none of which tested David Raya, and he created no chances before being substituted. Barcola played the full 90 minutes but had only 1 shot and created 1 chance.

As Yan Diomande rapidly fulfills his potential in Spain, Liverpool may wonder whether things would have been very different had they pushed harder for his signature in the summer.