Man City will smash transfer record in pursuit of wondered Yan Diomande

Manchester City are ready to SMASH their transfer record in a sensational £100million raid for RB Leipzig wonderkid Yan Diomande, as Pep Guardiola launches a dramatic Etihad rebuild, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The electrifying winger has made a strong impression since arriving at RB Leipzig last summer, showing flashes of pace, directness and attacking quality. 

Sources at Manchester City say Guardiola is “obsessed” with the teenager, viewing him as a centrepiece in the club’s next generation.

The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international has made 27 Bundesliga appearances and scored 11 goals in 30 games across all competitions - and privately it is understood he would be open to a Premier League challenge.

His rise has been nothing short of remarkable. As recently as March 2025 he was playing semi-professional football, but by October he was already on the scoresheet in the Bundesliga - a meteoric climb that has marked him out as one of the fastest-rising talents in the game.

Midfield anchor Rodri, one of City’s talisman during their glory years, is being heavily linked with a blockbuster move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, while fellow midfield lynchpin Bernardo Silva is also attracting strong interest ahead of the summer. 

With the Portuguese international approaching the end of his contract, his next move could prove pivotal in shaping City’s plans.

City, though, are already looking forward.

They have been credited with interest in Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, but it is Diomande who has truly captured Guardiola’s imagination.

The message internally is clear: he is the priority.

City know it will take around £100million to prize him away but, significantly, they are not deterred.

With the rebuild at the Etihad Stadium gathering pace, the club are ready to invest heavily in their next era.

Hot Property

Leipzig, however, hold a strong hand. Diomande only signed a five-year deal last summer, tying him to the club until 2030, and there is no release clause in that agreement. Any deal will be on their terms.

Still, that stance has not discouraged City.

Behind the scenes, Guardiola is already shaping the future, even as questions linger over his own. How long he remains at the club is unclear, with this season potentially his last. 

But those close to the situation say he is determined to leave a lasting blueprint for success before he departs.

On the pitch, City continue to deliver. Despite talk of an ageing squad, they underlined their class by recently beating their fiercest rivals Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, proof the old guard still has plenty left.

But the direction of travel is unmistakable. Change is coming and, if City get their way, Diomande could be one of the key players leading it.

They face competition from domestic rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United for his services.