Arsenal join race for €130m World Cup star as left winger search continues

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Arsenal have joined Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast star Yan Diomande, according to Sky Sports.

Diomande has fast become one of the most coveted players in world football following a stunning breakthrough season in 2025-26.

The 19-year-old scored 12 goals and recorded eight assists for Leipzig last term, earning the Bundesliga’s Rookie of the Season award for his efforts.

And Diomande picked up from where he left off at Leipzig by sparkling in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Ecuador at the World Cup on Sunday.

The two-footed winger created more chances (5) than any other player in Philadelphia, while he also had the most touches (12) in the opposition box.

Liverpool had already made Diomande their primary summer target before the World Cup began, according to The Athletic, who claim Leipzig value him at least €130million (£112m).

Cote D'Ivoire's Yan Diomande on his World
Cup debut:

▪️ Most touches (80)
▫️ Most chances created (5)
▪️ Most duels won (11)
▫️ Most progressive carries (15)

This 19-year-old is one to watch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0TWlgeG4TA

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2026

However, Diomande expressed his admiration for Champions League winners PSG in a pre-tournament interview at the start of June.

Despite Liverpool and PSG’s interest, Sky Sports understands Arsenal are also monitoring Diomande.

When asked about the transfer talk surrounding Diomande, Ivory Coast boss Emerse Fae said in quotes carried by ESPN: "When we were in France, during the [World Cup] preparation, journalists told me he was about to sign with PSG. Here, they tell me he's about to sign with Liverpool!

"I don't know, but for now, he will focus on the World Cup, and then afterwards, he can think about the rest of his career."

Arsenal are also tracking Rogers and Tzolis in left winger search

A separate report from BBC Sport claims the Gunners want to sign a right-back, a versatile midfielder and a left winger this summer.

The same publication believes Premier League champions Arsenal are also interested in signing Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers.

STATS

Morgan Rogers

AM (C), M (CL)

A. Villa

Morgan Rogers

AM (C), M (CL)

A. Villa

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 55

  Games

• 14

  Goals

• 11

  Assists

View all stats

Rogers, who - like Diomande - will be hoping to light up the World Cup for his country - is reportedly valued at least €92m (£80m) by Europa League holders Villa, according to The Telegraph.

The 23-year-old was one of Villa’s key performances last season, scoring 14 goals and registering 11 assists in all competitions.

BBC Sport also understands Arsenal are weighing up a move for Club Brugge’s prolific winger Christos Tzolis.

The same outlet claims the 24-year-old, who scored 17 goals and recorded 23 assists in the Belgian Pro League in 2025-26, has been offered to the north London club.

Following the penalty shootout loss to PSG in the Champions League final, manager Mikel Arteta called on the Arsenal board to spend big this summer.

The Spaniard told the media after the game in Budapest: “We'll start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level.

“And we're going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it's going to demand us to be very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”

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