Yan Diomande will choose between Liverpool and one other club - but not PSG

The Athletic has reported that the Reds made contact with the Bundesliga side as they look to step up their interest in the Ivorian. Liverpool are said to be in the strongest position to sign the 19-year-old, but will have to persuade Leipzig to allow the teenager to leave.

It comes after claims from the same report that the German club have reiterated that he is not for sale and it would take in excess of €130million (£112m). Paris Saint-Germain have been cited as one of the rivals looking to swoop and take the attacker away from Liverpool but Di Marzio has claimed that his destination could be between Liverpool and City.

Speaking to Wettfreunde, he said: "Liverpool is very keen on getting Yan Diomande but they are facing competition from Manchester City. Enzo Maresca loves the player and Diomande is his first choice. Manchester City and Maresca really wants him.

"He is Liverpool's first choice as well, so at this moment it only depends on who will pay the most money for him. He will go to the Premier League and Liverpool and Manchester City are the two options.

"PSG actually wants him as well, so he is on their list, but with all the players they have, I don't expect that he wants to go to PSG, so I am pretty sure he will go to Liverpool or Manchester City."

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Liverpool saw their attacking problems exposed in last season, in what proved to be Arne Slot's final campaign, as they failed to replicate the output that fired them to Premier League glory.

With Mohamed Salah leaving the Reds at the end of his contract this summer, it leaves a glaring area of reinforcements for Liverpool. The ECHO reported last month that Diomande is under consideration to 'succeed' the Egyptian on the right side.

The Germans' determination to keep their latest asset poses the prospect of an eyewatering price to prize him away from Anfield.

Speaking last month, the 19-year-old said: "Of course, if you imagine someone saying you have to go to Chelsea or Real Madrid to do this job, you're going to be happy and motivated to do more.

"But I don't think about this kind of thing because I'm trying to be focused on the pitch. Because my job is playing football, I leave everything else outside the pitch. It gives me a lot of motivation to see clubs speak about me. I'm focused.

"My contract runs until 2030, so I have four more years. I don't know what’s going to happen after that. I'm a Leipzig player. That's a big motivation because nobody knew me before. Paying €20million for a player that nobody knows is a lot.

"That was a big risk for them, and I'm thankful for that. We are on a good way, and it's not over. We need to keep going and keep working hard.

"I will never forget this opportunity. It's not only about playing football. The club has helped me a lot off the pitch. The media only sees me on the pitch, but the club has helped me a lot with my family and my mom.

"I'm very grateful, and the only thing I can do to say thanks is to give everything on the pitch, and that's what I'm trying to do every day."