Real Madrid have emerged as favourites to complete one of the biggest transfers of the summer, with the club moving decisively for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande.

Although the transfer has not yet been finalised, there is growing confidence that an agreement will be reached for a fee of between €115 million and €120 million, reports Jose Felix Diaz of AS.

Real Madrid’s marquee summer signing

Diomande is expected to become Real Madrid’s standout signing of the current transfer window.

At just 19 years of age and after only two seasons in top-flight football with Leganes and RB Leipzig, he has established himself as one of the most sought-after young players in European football.

The move has picked up pace overnight, but negotiations have been taking place over the past week.

Representatives from Real Madrid and RB Leipzig held face-to-face talks in Germany after the Spanish club secured the player’s agreement.

Diomande was regarded as one of the Bundesliga’s breakthrough stars last season alongside Michael Olise.

Direct approach mirroring Cucurella deal

Real Madrid’s approach for Diomande has been similar to the one they adopted in the pursuit of Marc Cucurella.

While other clubs were publicly discussing their interest in the Spanish international, Madrid acted directly and reached an agreement with Chelsea. They are now attempting to follow the same strategy in negotiations with RB Leipzig.

For much of the summer, it had appeared that the former Leganes player was destined to join PSG, particularly following reports during the Club World Cup.

However, Real Madrid worked discreetly behind the scenes and, while attention remained focused on Olise, made the RB Leipzig winger their priority target.

Personal terms not an issue

An agreement with the African international is not expected to create any issues regarding Real Madrid’s wage structure.

That factor has been considered an important advantage throughout the negotiations and is one of the reasons why the potential transfer has surprised many across European football.

In fact, as per an alternative report from Matteo Moretto, Diomande is giving top priority to Real Madrid, making it clear that an agreement over a contract will not be an issue.

Olise interest effectively ends

The pursuit of Diomande has also had immediate consequences within Real Madrid’s transfer plans. The most significant is the apparent end of any interest in Michael Olise.

Club officials at Valdebebas have consistently denied making any move for the France international. Now this move definitively ends the interest in the Bayern Munich winger.

Attention will also turn to Vinicius Jr.’s pending contract renewal and the approach that both the player and the club decide to take once he returns.

For now, negotiations continue, but Real Madrid appear to be closing in on a transfer that could become one of the defining deals of the summer transfer window.