The £85m star is now looking to sign for Liverpool

The morning of Saturday 30th May was quiet for Liverpool fans, until the lunchtime bombshell of Arne Slot's dismissal was confirmed.

The Dutchman has struggled to replicate his Premier League title success from his first campaign in charge, leading the Reds to a fifth-placed finish in 2025/26.

As a result, pressure was mounting on the 47-year-old, as club management made a big call to part ways with the manager after the end-of-season review.

The board wasted no time in looking for a replacement, leaving Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola to take over on Merseyside in the coming days.

The Spaniard's departure will allow for a much-needed fresh start at Anfield, which could see a number of new additions follow the 43-year-old into action ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Liverpool are pushing ahead with talks to sign the £85m star

Even before Slot was given his marching orders, Liverpool's management made landing a new attacker a priority in the summer transfer window.

PSG's winger Bradley Barcola has been tipped in one direction, and the Frenchman is a player who could be allowed to leave the Ligue 1 giants in the off-season.

The 23-year-old has lagged behind Kvicha Kvaratskhelia in recent months, leading to an £87m price tag being released ahead of any potential summer move.

Barcola is not the only attacker for the Reds at the moment, with RB Leipzig talent Yan Diomande also touted as one of the club's top transfer targets.

According to Spanish Outlet Sport, Liverpool have continued discussions with the player's representatives in recent days regarding a move to Anfield.

The report also says that Champions League winners PSG are also in the race to sign the Ivory Coast player, but the player currently prefers to go to the Premier League and Liverpool where he has been confirmed where he will start.

Any deal would be yet another big deal for the club, with the Bundesliga side seeking at least £85m to offload the 19-year-old attacker this summer.

Why Diomande joining Liverpool would be bad news for Ngumoha

One of Slot's biggest failings as Liverpool manager was his refusal to use 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha who had already won the match – often preferring Cody Gakpo on the left side of attack.

The youngster has enjoyed a stunning campaign at Anfield, his goal coming off the bench against Newcastle United in August at the start of his rise to stardom.

Despite starting five Premier League games this season, fans have voiced their displeasure with Slot in recent months – particularly after he was sent off in the 67th minute against Chelsea.

Iraola's arrival could give the youngster a new lease of life on Merseyside next term, with the Spaniard needing to show more faith in Slot in 2025/26.

However, Diomande's move could once again see the lad frustrated, as a big-money transfer is targeted for a player who can work left and right.

Although he may operate on the right to replace the departing Mohamed Salah, there is a chance he could operate on the other side before Ngumoha.

The Ivorian will undoubtedly cost a pretty penny this summer, but it is a deal that will inject much-needed quality into the squad under Iraola's leadership.

Diomande, labeled “unstoppable” by journalist Bence Bocsak, completed an impressive 4.3 per 90 dribbles during the most recent campaign in the Bundesliga.

Such a figure was the highest of any player in Germany's top flight, which further highlighted his incredible ability to get past opponents with ease.

The youngster has been able to put the final product to his impressive run in Leipzig, as seen with his impressive tally of 20 combined goals and assists this season.

The aforementioned figures are the highest of any member of the first team currently on the books at Anfield, with Diomande a player who could transform the attack under Iraola.

Off the ball, the 19-year-old has once again shown his quality, after which he won 1.1 times in 90 in the final third – which is more than 92% of attackers in Europe.

Iraola's plan calls for more pressure on the opposition, which could see Diomande take the lead in a new season on Merseyside in 2026/27.

The £85m signing of the winger would undoubtedly be a huge statement of intent from the management, with the youngster set to shine at Anfield for years to come.

His arrival could see Ngumoha fall even further, as the new manager desperately needs to find the right balance on Merseyside next season.

However, Diomande's pending move will bring some much-needed excitement back to the fans after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign under the recently departed Slot.