There is nothing quite like a footballer publicly admiring a club that isn't the one reportedly chasing him. Yan Diomande, the RB Leipzig winger who has been linked with Liverpool, has gone and done exactly that by waxing lyrical about Paris Saint-Germain and how much he has loved them since he was little. Whether that is a genuine declaration of preference or a bit of clever positioning to drive up interest, only Diomande and his agent truly know.
What is clear is that Liverpool have reportedly been keeping tabs on the winger, and Diomande is not exactly playing coy about his options. Saying it would be a pleasure to play in France is the kind of quote that tends to make sporting directors sit up a little straighter. If you are Liverpool, you probably do not love hearing your transfer target talking dreamily about a French club, but then again it is not as if Arne Slot's side are short of pulling power these days.
The interesting thing about PSG is that they are in a bit of a transitional phase themselves. Since losing Kylian Mbappe they have been trying to redefine their identity, and bringing in hungry, dynamic wide players makes a lot of sense for what Luis Enrique is building. Diomande slotting into that setup is not a daft idea at all.
For Liverpool, the situation is worth watching. They have the Champions League pedigree, the Premier League appeal and wages that can compete with most clubs in Europe. If Diomande genuinely prefers Paris then fair enough, but it would be surprising if Liverpool could not at least get him to the table for a conversation.
At this stage it is all transfer window noise, the sort of story that might lead somewhere or might completely fizzle out by August. Diomande is a talented player and it is understandable that clubs are interested. Whether he ends up at Anfield or the Parc des Princes, or somewhere else entirely, remains to be seen.
Let me know your thoughts.