Story by Tashan Deniran-Alleyne.
RB Leipzig have confirmed that Yan Diomande’s omission from their pre-season training camp squad is due to illness.
Following a convincing 4-0 win over SC Verl on Saturday, head coach Martin Demichelis was quizzed by Sky Germany of Diomande’s whereabouts after the Ivory Coast international missed the friendly.
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“I know it’s a big topic. Yan is genuinely ill,” Demichelis told reporters. “We’ll see. I haven’t spoken with the doctor yet.
“If he’s healthy, he has to come with us. If he’s ill, then he’s ill.”
As per RB Leipzig’s squad announcement for the trip to Austria, Diomande has not sufficiently recovered in time to be part of the initial travelling squad, though is expected to join up with his team-mates once he is back to full health.
“Yan Diomande will also not travel to Saalfelden due to an infection,” a RB Leipzig statement reads. “As soon as he has recovered, he will follow.”
Antonio Nusa and Peter Gulacsi are the other senior players to have been left out of the aforementioned squad, with the latter “currently in talks with another club and therefore will not join the training camp”.
Transfer target: Yan Diomande (Standard Sport)
Diomande’s absence from the training camp comes at a time where there is intense speculation over his future, as Real Madrid seek to reach an agreement with Leipzig for a big-money summer transfer.
It has been widely reported that Los Blancos have already seen two offers for the winger rejected, with the German club said to be holding out for a fee closer to €130million (£111m).
The latest, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, is that the two clubs remain in negotiations, though Real are pushing to finalise the deal over the weekend.
Arsenal, meanwhile, had previously been linked with a move for Diomande prior to Real Madrid stealing a march but will be watching developments closely as any deal could have an impact on their own transfer plans.
The Gunners are interested in signing Vinicius Junior from the LaLiga giants and Standard Sport understands the Brazilian has emerged as a key target as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options.
However, it has been reported that the likely arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu of Diomande will not impact Vinicius Jr’s playing time under Jose Mourinho next season.
That said, with less than 12 months remaining on his contract in the Spanish capital, Vinicius is likely to be sold if an agreement cannot be reached to extend his deal, and Arsenal will be ready to pounce if the 26-year-old does become available.
