United ready to splash the cash to acquire the “missing piece of the puzzle”, Liverpool stand in their way – report

Manchester United’s need for a winger is evident, especially if they continue to play with a back four moving forward. Ruben Amorim’s shift to a back three and his usage of wingbacks meant the club got rid of their left wingers, choosing to invest in attacking midfielders. Amad remains a superb option on the right flank, but the Red Devils could do with some stardust on the opposite wing. The 20-time English league champions had emerged as frontrunners for Iliman Ndiaye, but Everton are adamant they will not sell their talisman in the summer. Yan Diomande, the perfect fit for United This has forced the Old Trafford giants to broaden their search, and Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig has emerged as a serious option. The Ivorian has been on fire in his debut Bundesliga campaign, netting eight goals and registering six assists in 18 starts across all competitions. Naturally, that kind of form has meant the apex predators from England are all circling to take him away from Germany. The Bundesliga outfit have slapped a €100 million price tag on his head to ward off potential suitors, but that has done little to dampen United’s pursuit. Considered the missing piece of the puzzle In fact, as per Fussball Daten, United consider the Ivory Coast international the “missing piece of the puzzle” who would complete their attack. Yan Diomande Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Bundesliga2116852-1,452′ DFB-Pokal3311–241′ Total2419962-1,693′ 25/26 season stats However, Teamtalk have now revealed that fierce rivals Liverpool are leading the race for the 19-year-old, having scouted him extensively. “While Man Utd will fancy their chances of signing Diomande in the summer of 2026, sources have told us that it is Liverpool that are leading the race for the teenager. “Liverpool are ahead of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the race for Diomande.” Liverpool cannot be allowed to win the race The electrifying winger has already clarified that Liverpool are not his dream club, so hopefully, INEOS can work their magic and land Yan Diomande ahead of their Merseyside rivals. Feature image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25