Real Madrid accelerate €100m move for Leipzig teenager Diomande while keeping Olise on long-term radar

Real Madrid are intensifying efforts to sign RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old midfielder Yaya Diomande in a deal that could reach or exceed €100m, while insisting their pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise remains very much alive for the longer term.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the European champions have moved decisively for Diomande after recognising the difficulty of prising Olise away from Bayern in the current transfer window, despite Real Madrid’s readiness to invest more than €200m in a deal for the 24-year-old.

Bayern’s firm stance on Olise

President Florentino Perez is reported to still regard Olise as a priority target, with the Bayern midfielder at the top of Real Madrid’s attacking wishlist. However, officials at Valdebebas are now convinced that the German champions have no intention of selling the France international this summer.

That assessment has led Real Madrid to pause, rather than abandon, their move for Olise. The club will keep monitoring the situation closely and remain prepared to reopen talks at short notice should Bayern signal any willingness to negotiate.

Inside the Spanish club, the expectation is that a more realistic opportunity to sign Olise could emerge next summer, rather than during the current window, and strategic planning has been adjusted accordingly.

Diomande deal gathers pace

In the meantime, Real Madrid have turned their focus to Diomande, a player they have been tracking for an extended period. The Ivory Coast international, who operates in midfield, has emerged as a leading option to strengthen the squad immediately.

Reports had previously suggested Diomande was close to joining Paris Saint-Germain, with the French champions believed to be making significant progress towards an agreement with Leipzig. However, Real Madrid’s late intervention has changed the dynamic around the player’s future.

The presence of the Spanish giants in the race is said to have unsettled prior assumptions about Diomande’s next destination and prompted the youngster to reconsider his options.

Player gives initial green light

The 19-year-old has now given his initial approval to a move to the Spanish capital, according to the same report, with Real Madrid understood to be pushing to finalise terms on a package that could reach, or even surpass, the €100m mark once variables are included.

That figure would place Diomande among the most expensive signings in Real Madrid’s history, underlining both the club’s belief in his potential and their determination to reinforce a squad already packed with young talent.

Strategy: Diomande now, Olise later

Crucially for Real Madrid, pursuing Diomande is not viewed as an alternative to Olise, but as a parallel track within a broader long-term recruitment strategy. The move for the Leipzig midfielder is seen as a response to immediate market realities, while Olise remains a major objective for the medium term.

For the moment, Real Madrid’s negotiating team will concentrate on concluding a deal with Leipzig and securing Diomande’s signature, while keeping open lines of communication and maintaining a watching brief on any change of stance from Bayern regarding Olise.

Within Valdebebas, the prevailing belief is that patience on the Olise front could be rewarded next year, but the opportunity to land Diomande now is considered too significant to ignore.