Real Madrid close in on €120m Yan Diomande as Leipzig winger skips training camp

Yan Diomande will not travel with RB Leipzig to the club's pre-season training camp in Austria as the German side continues to negotiate with Real Madrid over his transfer.

The Athletic reported last week that Madrid were expected to reach an agreement with the German club for the 19-year-old winger, following Paris Saint-Germain's withdrawal from negotiations.

Leipzig cite illness, not transfer

Leipzig insist the Ivory Coast international will not travel with his team-mates because he is feeling unwell, and that his absence is unrelated to his future. Head coach Martin Demichelis told Sky Germany that the winger was “genuinely ill”.

Madrid had recently lodged an improved bid of €120million, which includes a €100m fixed fee. While Leipzig are expected to hold out for a higher price closer to their €130m valuation, there is confidence on all sides that a deal will be struck in due course.

Record-breaking sale in the making

Diomande could become Leipzig's record sale, exceeding the fees they received for Benjamin Sesko from Manchester United in 2025 (€76.5m plus add-ons) or the €90m that Manchester City paid the club to sign Josko Gvardiol in 2023.

The winger, who joined Leipzig a year ago from Spanish side Leganes, had also been the subject of an approach from Liverpool earlier in the summer, an approach that was close to €100million (£86.8m; $115m) in value.

Stunning debut campaign

Last season, Diomande scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 Bundesliga matches — missing just one league game due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January — as Leipzig finished third and qualified for the Champions League.

He featured in all four matches for the Ivory Coast during the recent World Cup, helping his nation reach the last 32, where they were eliminated by Norway.

Madrid's busy summer

Madrid have been busy following the return of Jose Mourinho, 13 years after his exit, for a second spell as head coach. They have signed Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi this summer, while they are also working on a deal to sign Rodri from Manchester City.