Jurgen Klopp made his feelings clear on Liverpool transfer target Yan Diomande

Liverpool is among a host of top clubs said to be keeping a close eye on Yan Diomande, and the Reds might take encouragement from Jurgen Klopp's verdict on the RB Leipzig star

Jurgen Klopp has made his feelings clear on Yan Diomande amid links with Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp is clearly a big fan of Yan Diomande, with the RB Leipzig attracting plenty of interest at the moment, including possibly from Liverpool.

Diomande has burst onto the scene in Germany, having made the move to Leipzig from Spanish side Leganes last summer. The 19-year-old has recorded seven goals and four assists from his 18 appearances so far.

He has also shown what he is capable of during the Africa Cup of Nations, in which he started all but one of the Ivory Coast’s games, and scored in the last-16 win over Burkina Faso, before being knocked out by Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in the quarter-finals.

His impressive form has led to speculation linking him with a transfer, whether that be this month or in the summer, with Liverpool among those touted as a possible destination.

The Reds, along with Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, are said to be keeping a close eye on the teenager, with reports suggesting he is valued in the region of $107 million (£80M).

It has been a remarkable rise for Diomande, who was previously rejected by Rangers after a trial with the Scottish side, and Klopp has been key to his success.

Yan Diomande has been linked with Liverpool and a host of other clubs(Image: Getty Images)

The former Liverpool boss now works as Red Bull’s head of global soccer, and played an important role in Diomande signing for Leipzig, as the German club’s director for sport Marcel Schafer has revealed.

“We saw the data and immediately knew that we had to take a detailed look at the player, both on video and in live matches, and that’s what we did,” Schafer said (via bullinews.com).

“Our advantage was that we were there before he had even played 200 minutes in the league. We already knew he had the profile we were looking for that summer.

“We didn’t need to have five conversations about signing him because the profile was clear. It was a 100 per cent match from our side.

“It was clear to us that if we had the chance, we would go for it. When we started negotiations with Leganés, they said there was such high competition for the player that we needed to pay that amount if we wanted him.

“Leganes were clear, honest and transparent. It was a huge amount given where the player was at the time, but we knew he was our number-one favourite.

“We wanted the player, even if we had to pay a little more than many expected. We didn’t care, because it was an ideal situation. We were even in touch with Jürgen Klopp and Mario Gomez, who saw the data and video clips, and everybody said ‘go, go, go.’”

Schafer also touched upon the growing speculation over Diomande’s future. Asked whether Leipzig was in the ‘front seat’ when it comes to the winger’s future, he replied: “There isn’t even anyone sitting in the passenger seat. Everyone is sitting in the back seat."