“Sport Bild” reports
©IMAGO
RB Leipzig is apparently leaving no stone unturned to keep high-flyer Yan Diomande in their own ranks for longer. According to “Sport Bild”, the first important step would have been taken with qualification for the Champions League. On the one hand, the Saxons would not need such high transfer income, and on the other hand, the 19-year-old offensive player and his management would be open to another year in Leipzig out of gratitude for their trust last summer.
According to the magazine, it is planned that RB Diomande will make a new contract offer that includes a one-year extension until 2031. Presumably with an exit clause, which should not exist in the existing working paper, and a salary increase. The Ivorian, who recently saw a jump in market value from 45 million to 75 million euros, currently earns less than two million euros.
For the Red Bulls, at least according to supervisory board chairman Oliver Mintzlaff, it is clear that Diomande will definitely not be released this summer – come what may. “I’m on the supervisory board and not the sports director. But I can say: If I were the sports director, I wouldn’t sell this young player who hasn’t even been with us for a full season, no matter what the price is,” the 50-year-old recently said on “Sky”. “I believe that he is a player who is still developing anyway, because he is of course still very young and can certainly become even more expensive.” The most expensive RB departure to date is Josko Gvardiol, who moved to Manchester City in 2023 for 90 million euros.
RB Leipzig: That’s the plan with Orbán and Raum
Meanwhile, it looks like defender Willi Orbán – contrary to recent rumors – will not be presented with a new contract beyond 2027. It is almost impossible that there will be another extension because the Leipzig team would plan differently in the long term. But the veteran is too important and good, which is why he should also lead the defense in the 2026/27 season, as they say. Also because a departure of defender colleague Castello Lukeba (23) is within the realm of possibility and talents like El Chadaille Bitshiabu (20) and Abdoul Koné (21), who is scheduled to start in the summer, are not yet ready for a leadership role. In addition, Lukas Klostermann (29) could leave the club. It remains to be seen whether the 33-year-old Orbán, the longest-serving professional in the team after Klostermann, will follow the one-year plan or reorient himself.
The contract talks with national player David Raum, reportedly one of Leipzig’s top earners with an annual salary of 6 million euros, have reportedly been postponed. First, the premier class qualification must be bagged so that new conditions can be negotiated with the professional who is bound until 2027. Because RB should actually be instructed to save salaries. An exit clause of around 35 million euros is anchored in the 28-year-old Raum’s contract, it is reported. The Premier League is the former Hoffenheim player’s preferred destination.
