Yan Diomande transfer update given as manager speaks out on Liverpool move

Yan Diomande has been linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the early stages of the summer and now he is impressing at the World Cup

Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae has laughed off transfer speculation surrounding Liverpool target Yan Diomande. Fae facetiously said he's been told the youngster is "about to sign with Liverpool" following the Elephants' 1-0 World Cup victory over Ecuador.

Diomande turned heads in Philadelphia as Ivory Coast edged out the South American outfit courtesy of a late strike from Manchester United's Amad Diallo. RB Leipzig winger Diomande registered more touches than any of his team-mates and completed four dribbles throughout the contest.

The 19-year-old has drawn interest from both Liverpool and Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain off the back of an impressive Bundesliga campaign.

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Leipzig are unwilling to part with the teenager, though negotiations are continuing, with the Reds seeking additional pace in wide positions following Mohamed Salah's departure at the end of the season. When quizzed about his No. 11's future, Fae brushed aside the rumours while insisting the youngster possesses the right mentality to keep developing.

"When we were in France, during the preparation, journalists told me he was about to sign with PSG," Fae said. "Here, they tell me he's about to sign with Liverpool!

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"I don't know, but for now, he will focus on the World Cup, and then afterwards, he can think about the rest of his career. Yan - what can I say? I can't put it into words. He's very talented, but beyond the talent, he's very young and he'll improve.

"He's a kid who works hard, has a real team spirit, laughs with everyone, and he listens, listens to the technical staff whenever he's given advice, and tries to do his best, as he's told.

"It's easy to work with someone like Yan, he's so talented and has what is needed, plus he can give you the victory and was a real challenge for Hincapie, a Champions League finalist [with Arsenal]."

The Liverpool target had the chance to meet up with rap icon Jay Z ahead of kick-off in Philadelphia. The New York-based rapper owns Diomande's Roc Nation Sports agency, who secured the Ivory Coast star's signature earlier this year.

Diomande joined the Roc Nation stable back in February, though his previous representatives, Maxidel Management, have since launched legal action, claiming he is still contracted to them.

Fae added: "It's the first World Cup for all 26 players, a first outing for them, so it was difficult, there was some doubt, there was some fear. In the second half, we took more risks, were more concentrated, made fewer individual mistakes.

"Plus, we have great attacking players, like Yan, like Amad, and they were able to get more on the ball, push Ecuador back. We respected Ecuador very much in the first half, but over time we grew more confident, and then we managed to hurt them."