Manchester United eyeing £87m-rated teen as Semenyo alternative

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Manchester United are keeping track of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old has been a standout performer for Leipzig this season, contributing eight goal involvements in 14 Bundesliga matches.

He has now landed on the radar of many top clubs, with United amongst the clubs at front of the queue. United were one of the clubs in for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but the player has reportedly chosen the other side of Manchester as his preferred destination.

The Red Devils are now keen on Diomande according to TalkSport, who report that United could turn their interest into a firm bid. The player is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast at AFCON, but could be available for £87m once the tournament concludes at the end of January.

Diomande joined Dortmund from La Liga side Leganes just this past summer. He signed a five-year deal, tying him to the club until June of 2030.

He has enjoyed a meteoric rise, having played semi-professional football in America as recently as 2024. The youngster is now one of the most sought-after players in Europe.

United invested heavily in attacking reinforcements over the summer. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko all joined a new look attack for Ruben Amorim.

Depth in those areas is known to be an issue though, so Diomande could be seen as a useful long term squad option. United are known to be in the market for even more reinforcements, particularly in centre midfield.

Their high profile midfield shortlist is widely believed to include Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller and a whole host of others.

Question marks remain over the futures of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo. Skipper Bruno Fernandes has also been added to the list of possible future departures, after his recent comments revealed the club was tempted to sell him last summer.

Nadji is a football writer with over 10 years of experience covering the Premier League. His work has been featured on Football Fancast, Arsenal-Mania, and Arsenal.com, where he has built a reputation for delivering sharp analysis, engaging storytelling, and in-depth coverage of the game.