Real Madrid move for Diomande risks derailing Barcelona pursuit of Asllani

Real Madrid’s push to sign Jean Diomande from RB Leipzig has triggered a chain of events that could see Barcelona miss out on their leading attacking target, Hoffenheim forward Vjones Asllani, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

Leipzig are reported to have identified the Kosovo international as the direct replacement for Diomande if the Ivorian completes a switch to the Bernabeu. Barcelona, however, view Asllani as the ideal successor to Ferran Torres, leaving the Catalan club in an increasingly vulnerable position as the market develops.

Leipzig ready to activate Asllani clause

AS reports that Leipzig are determined to move for 23-year-old Asllani the moment Diomande’s transfer to Real Madrid is finalised. The Bundesliga club are prepared to trigger the €29m release clause in the forward’s Hoffenheim contract, a move which would effectively shut Barcelona out of the race.

Negotiations between Real Madrid and Leipzig over Diomande are said to be progressing quickly, with the Spanish champions aiming to close the deal within days. Any agreement would immediately prompt Leipzig to formalise their pursuit of Asllani, reducing the room for manoeuvre for Barcelona.

The knock-on effect leaves the Camp Nou hierarchy under intense time pressure. Once Leipzig activate the clause, Hoffenheim would be obliged to accept, leaving Barcelona reliant on convincing the player to resist the German club’s advances – something that is becoming increasingly complicated.

Barcelona tied up by Ferran Torres uncertainty

Barcelona’s ability to act decisively is being hampered by the unresolved future of Ferran Torres. The Spain international’s contract expires in a year, and while he impressed in the 2026 World Cup final, he has yet to commit to fresh terms.

AS indicates that Torres is hesitating over a renewal amid strong interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. Barcelona must first clarify whether Torres will stay or be sold before they can move formally for Asllani, a sequencing issue that is costing them precious time in the market.

The club regard Asllani as the “perfect” replacement for Torres, both in terms of profile and age, and have placed him at the top of their attacking shortlist. But with Torres’ situation unresolved, Barcelona have not yet been able to table a concrete proposal.

Asllani waits for Barcelona as Leipzig turn up heat

Despite having given an initial green light to the idea of joining Leipzig, Asllani is delaying a final decision in the hope that Barcelona present an official offer. The forward, who scored 11 goals and provided 8 assists in 35 appearances for Hoffenheim last season, is understood to favour a move to Camp Nou if a serious bid arrives.

His stance is seen as a clear signal that Barcelona is his preferred destination, but the window of opportunity is narrowing. Leipzig are putting the player under significant pressure to commit, as they want to secure Diomande’s replacement before allowing the Ivorian to leave for Madrid.

According to AS, Leipzig are insistent that Asllani’s situation must be resolved before they sign off on Diomande’s departure, effectively linking all three clubs’ plans in a single, delicate operation.

Barcelona facing a crucial decision

The complex dynamic leaves Barcelona’s board confronting two unappealing options. They can accelerate talks over Ferran Torres’ future and move immediately with an official bid for Asllani, or they can risk losing their priority attacking target if Real Madrid complete the Diomande deal and Leipzig swiftly activate the Hoffenheim forward’s release clause.

With Real Madrid pushing to wrap up Diomande’s transfer and Leipzig ready to move for Asllani as soon as that happens, every hour without a firm decision from Barcelona increases the likelihood that the Kosovo striker heads to Germany instead of Spain.